Shweta Waghole from Pune, India, vividly remembers the phone call that changed everything. From her home in Pune District, Maharashtra, India, she listened as her local childcare center explained that her son was mildly malnourished. The news left her shaken. Like any parent, she simply wanted her child to have the chance to grow up strong and healthy. However, with one in every three children under age 5 in India suffering from malnutrition, Shweta’s situation was not a rare case.
Fortunately, the center offered a solution. In 2023, Quaker, the PepsiCo Foundation and the non-governmental organization (NGO) MAMTA Health Institute for Mother and Child launched the Quaker Bowl of Growth program, an initiative to combat childhood malnutrition in India and provide children ages 3 to 5 the foundation they need to thrive. Shweta’s son was soon eating panjiri, a locally inspired nutritional supplement made with Quaker Multigrain and millet and fortified with 18 vitamins and minerals. She noticed a difference in just a few months. “Since starting, panjiri, my child has not fallen ill,” she says.
During the Quaker Bowl of Growth’s pilot phase, 1,000 children received panjiri. The results were striking: 98% ate at least three-quarters of their serving, 89% showed improved or stable growth and 95% of caregivers reported an increase in their children’s appetites.
Nutrition is only part of the story. Through the program’s workshops, community engagement sessions and even comic books, families learn about nutrition, hygiene and sustainable health practices, helping empower them to build lasting healthy habits. Phase two is already scaling to reach 6,000 children in Pune and Mumbai, expanding the program’s reach and impact.
Shweta’s story is one among millions. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 45 million children under age 5 have a weight that is too low for their height. This is known as wasting and is the most visible and life-threatening form of malnutrition. Another 149 million children are stunted, meaning their growth and cognitive development are permanently impaired by chronic undernutrition.
Helping children grow in Guatemala and Mexico
PepsiCo provides similar support in Guatemala, where nearly half of children under age 5 suffer from chronic childhood malnutrition — one of the highest rates in the world. In 2020, Quaker launched Quaker Qrece® (“Quaker Grows”) in partnership with CARE Guatemala and the PepsiCo Foundation. The program provides children ages 2 to 5 with a specialized food made from oats, milk, eggs and peanuts and fortified with 17 essential vitamins and minerals. Families also attend workshops on hygiene, safe water and waste management, tackling root causes of poor health.
The impact has been profound. More than 3,000 children across 86 communities participated in its most recent phase, with nine out of 10 showing improved nutritional status. For Ilda Semet, the program has been life changing. Her two-year-old son, Manuel, once quiet and withdrawn began eating the Quaker Qrece® specially formulated cookie daily. With her dedication and new knowledge from training sessions, she watched Manuel transform, growing about four inches and gaining more than six pounds in just a few months.
“The most gratifying thing has been to see the change in the children, to become stronger, more curious and happier,” says Rubén Jordán, Program Manager for CARE Guatemala. “It has also been inspiring to see mothers regain self-confidence and become community leaders.”
Quaker Qrece® has also been a beacon of hope in Mexico since 2013, where the program launched with Fundación PepsiCo Mexico and the NGO Un Kilo de Ayuda. Over 16,000 children have benefited.
Innovating with Quaker Oats in Brazil
In Brazil, where 33 million people face food insecurity and nearly 12% of children under age 5 suffer from stunting, PepsiCo’s R&D team reimagined a staple. After considering that an oat grain’s husk could be peeled back to reveal a rice-like kernel, they created Quaker Oat “Rice,” a food that blends seamlessly into Brazilian diets while delivering twice the fiber and protein of standard white rice.
“This product can be at the table and a part of people’s meals,” says Livia Favaro, Corporate Affairs Senior Impact Manager for PepsiCo in Brazil. “It can be simple as rice and beans and can be fancy as a risotto. You can make it into a dessert; it can be in a salad — it’s very versatile.”
With initial funding from PepsiCo and expanded investment from the PepsiCo Foundation, Quaker Oat “Rice” offers consumers a nutritious and affordable food option, designed to make a broader social impact. During its launch, 100% of profits were donated to local NGO Amigos do Bem, helping to provide meals to 25,000 Brazilians in its first year. Beyond its immediate impact, Quaker Oat “Rice” reflects PepsiCo’s broader pep+ ambitions to make nutritious food accessible to 50 million people by 2030. “This is just the beginning of a journey to fight food insecurity in Brazil,” Livia says.
A global initiative
From the bowls of children in India and Mexico to families in Guatemala and Brazil, PepsiCo’s innovative foods and community partnerships are helping to fuel growth, resilience and hope.
"Child malnutrition is not only a lack of food, but also a lack of opportunities,” says Rubén. “Investing in nutrition is investing in the present and the future of a country.”