Sixty-two percent of the worlds overweight or obese individuals live in developing countries, and deaths from chronic diseases have risen by more than 50% in low- and middle-income countries over the past two decades. More than one in three adults in Mexico, and more than one in four in Australia, Canada, Chile and Hungary are obese.
The public health community remains highly divided regarding the role of the food industry in curbing this epidemic. While the food industry is highly criticized for contributing to this issue, the private sector has also been lauded as a driver of innovative solutions to the problem.
Mondelez International, the food manufacturer behind snacks like Milka Chocolate, Ritz Crackers, and Oreos, aligns the work of its corporate philanthropy to simultaneously meet its own strategic goals and improve health in 13 markets where it has its largest employee and consumer bases.
In 2013, Mondelez International committed $50 million to support non-profit organizations globally that offer nutrition education, promote active play and expand access to fresh foods through local agriculture. Partnering with researchers at the Yale School of Public Health, the company has also built organizational capacity of its grantees to help them demonstrate the impact of their work.
Read more about how Mondelez International leverages Strategic Philanthropy to promote community health here and the business case for community health promotion in our report Beyond the Four Walls: Why Community is Critical to Workforce Health available alongside more information on the business case for community health promotion.
How can food companies create shared value for communities? Wed love to hear from you, either below or on social media at @VitalityInst and using #Beyond4Walls
Thumbnail photo credit: Mondelez International
