Heart to new life - seed project supported by Nestlé pays close attention to baby allergy prevention

The Organizing Committee of the National Community Care Campaign and Nestlé China kicks off the 2015-2016 ‘Heart to New Life - Seed Project' national-wide promotion activity and the 3501st "Healthy Pregnancy Lecture" at the China Women's Activity Center in Beijing on Tuesday. The eventalso marks the beginning of the fourth year of the five-year partnership between the two parties.

For the year 2015-2016, Nestlé will promote cooperation with the organizing committee to expand the scale and frequency of "Healthy Pregnancy Lecture"; at the same time, in view of the infant and young children allergy issue which concerns Chinese mothers, to provide professional knowledge and practical guidance on preventing allergy from pregnancy.

40.9% of Chinesebabies suffered from allergicsymptoms

Recently, "the Epidemiology Survey of Allergic Diseases among Urban Infants and Children" jointly carried out by the National Center for Women and Children Health of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Nestlé announced the results. As thefirst comprehensive and intensive survey on allergic symptoms and risk factors among infants and young children in China, the results show that allergy hasbecome one of the major issues that affect the health of infants and young children in China.

?Data show that 40.9% of 0 to 2-year old babies had or are experiencing allergic symptoms;

?Once triggered, allergy is difficult to be cured. In different age groups since infancy, eczema, diarrhea, asthma, allergic rhinitis, food allergies and other symptoms will trouble the whole life of the child with allergic constitution;

?Allergies may also have a negative impact on the mental development of children. Exploration is the nature of children; however, allergies lead to the baby reducing or avoiding allergen contact, limiting the possibility to explore the world.

Allergy prevention starting from pregnancy should be Chinese mother's top priority

Allergy history of family aside, baby allergy has much to do with fetal growth, way of delivery and lactation nutrition, so health care professionals suggest that mothers should start toprevent baby allergy from pregnancy. Early knowledge of baby allergy risks, balanced nutritional intake during pregnancy and lactation, probiotics intake, nature delivery, breast-feeding are effective means to prevent infants and young children allergy.

?It has been clinically verified that, expectant mothers taking probiotics Bb12 and LGG during pregnancy and lactation helps babies reduce 50% of risk of sensitization; taking LGG helps babies reduce 50% of the frequency of atopiceczema.

?44% of babies delivered by Caesarean section had allergic diseases.Risk of having allergic diseases in babies delivered by Caesarean section is 1.3 times of those by natural delivery.Therefore expectant mothers should try to choose nature delivery over caesarean.

?Breastfeeding is critical for infant allergy prevention, and Nestlé "MING" Study shows that in 8 cities in China only 42.8% of 0 to 6 months babies are exclusively breastfed. Protein in breast milk is most suitable for baby's stomach in terms of protein, milk ingredients and nutrition proportion. At the same time, the process of breastfeeding can help the baby develop early intestinal flora as quick as possible to effectively reduce the risk of allergy. Doctors suggest that mothers should persist in pure breastfeeding for at least 4 to 6 months. Once breast milk is inadequate, mothers need to consider clinically proven partially hydrolyzed formula, which can effectively reduce the allergy risk caused by milk protein.

?Pregnant mothers can search for the "Allergy Risk Index Test" to understand how closeallergy is to babies, and take the first step for allergy prevention.

"Start Healthy, Stay Healthy" Nestlé continues to support China's maternal and child health development

As the world's leading infant and child nutrition expert, Nestlé has been an earnest advocate of "First 1000 Days of Life" theory. In 2014, Nestlé kicked off "Start Healthy, Stay Healthy" in China and France market, a nutrition education program, which aims atproviding practical nutrition and feeding plans for new parents according to baby's growth and development in the first 1000 days of life. This project has become one of the important contents of education under the "Happy Families- Maternal and Infant Health 1000 Days Action", a program jointly launched by several government departments."MING" Study- a "First 1000 Days of Life" related dietary surveyjointly carried out by Peking University and Nestlé has become an important cornerstone of scientific research for the execution of "Start Healthy, Stay Healthy".

As a socially responsible corporate, Nestlé has always been adhering to the business philosophy of "Creating Shared Value". Nestlé in China is an active partner to initiate and conduct public welfare education project, and has been sharingprofessional experience and research resultsin maternal and child nutrition and health accumulated within almost 150 years. Since the cooperation of Nestlé and the organizing committee of the National Community Care Campaignstarted in 2012, the Seed Project has achieved remarkable result; scientific knowledge on pregnancy and child rearing has been transferred through booklets and lectures, benefiting nearly 6 million families in 30 cities throughout China.

Nestlé will continue to focus on Chinese mothers' parenting demand, providing professional and scientific nutrition solutions for "The First 1000 Days of Life" so as to contribute to nurturing a healthy generation.

Zhao Donghua, secretary of the Secretariat and vice President of the All-China Women's Federation; Xiang Yang, vice director of the Department for Children, All-China Women's Federation; leaders from the organizer; representatives from maternal and child health system; and Mickey Lee, Senior Vice President of Nestlé China attend the event.