SPECIALIZED NUTRITION

At Danone we strongly believe that the health of people and the planet are interconnected, and our aim is to inspire healthier and more sustainable eating and drinking choices for everyone, including those with specific nutritional needs.

Through our specialized nutrition brands and broad range of support programs and services, we work to fulfil people’s specific nutritional needs throughout life in a way that positively impacts the health of local communities and helps to preserve the planet for future generations.

We focus on specialized nutrition for:

Healthy growth and development in early life

What we eat and drink as babies influences our lifelong health and can impact our food preferences later in life. We know that breast milk is the best source of nutrition with many short and long-term benefits for both infants and mothers. However, some women who cannot or choose not to breastfeed need safe, healthy options for their children. Our portfolio of baby formula products is based on years of scientific research and innovation and is designed to meet the nutritional needs of babies in early life. 

Health conditions in early life

Sometimes highly specialized medical nutrition is necessary in early life. If babies are born prematurely or are diagnosed with cow’s milk allergy, normal infant nutrition may not be sufficient to support their growth. To manage their condition and alleviate symptoms, these babies need specially formulated medical nutrition.

Some babies and young children are diagnosed with faltering growth as a result of an underlying medical condition or cannot eat and drink normally and need medical nutrition products that provide a balance of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals to help them grow and thrive. 

Nutrition in times of illness

In adulthood, adapted nutrition can support recovery from illnesses and address malnutrition that can develop due to the disease. People who have suffered a stroke or who are fighting illnesses such as cancer can have difficulty meeting their nutritional needs through normal food alone. This means they need specific nutrition, in specialized formats. In these scenarios, medical nutrition can support better clinical outcomes and provide food and drink adjusted to the specific nutritional needs of patients. 

Nutrition as we age

As we get older, we all want to continue being able to do the things we value and enjoy the most, but as we age, we become more vulnerable to malnutrition due to an underlying disease or condition. In fact, as many as one in three older people living in care homes are at risk of malnutrition[1]. If not diagnosed, malnutrition can lead to muscle loss and physical frailty, making older people more vulnerable to falls and fractures. The right nutritional care at the right time can support older people maintain their mobility and independence, enabling them to age in good health.

Our range of medical nutrition products is specifically adapted into formats that address eating and drinking difficulties that an older person might experience, which can put these people at risk of malnutrition.

[1] Kaiser MJ et al. J Am Geriatr Soc  2010 58:1734-8;
Suominen MH et al. Eur J Clin Nutr 2009;63:292-6;
Lelovics Z et al. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2009;49:190-6;
Parsons EL et al. Proc Nutr Soc 2010;69:E197

Strategy & key figures

Supporting breastfeeding