Mondelēz promises $50 million for healthy lifestyles

The Mondelēz International Foundation has made a multiyear, $50 million commitment to promote healthy lifestyles and address obesity in 10 countries across the globe, including Australia.

New programs in Argentina, Australia, Egypt, France, Nigeria, Russia and Ukraine, along with renewed programs in the United States, China and India, will reach an estimated 365,000 children and their families over the next three years. These programs join partnerships currently running in Brazil, Germany, Mexico and South Africa, all geared to creating school and community environments that encourage children and families to adopt lifelong healthy habits.

Over the next three years, the foundation and its partners will inspire schools and communities to reach under-served children and get involved in innovative ways. In Australia, the foundation, in partnership with Save the Children, will focus on nutrition education, growing healthy foods and improving physical activity to over 11,000 children and families.

Each community partnership will also track progress against a universal set of metrics that the foundation developed in collaboration with its community partners and a public health expert from Yale School of Public Health. Metrics measure improvements in nutrition education, physical activity and access to nutritious foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables.