Preliminary results from a study by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health show that micronutrient-fortified yogurt has a positive impact on children’s growth rate in terms of height and their ability to concentrate and learn.
The yogurt for the experiment was provided by social business Grameen Danone Foods, a joint venture launched by Danone and Grameen to supply nutritious food to poor children in Bangladesh. The study was conducted between 2008 and 2011, where school children ages 6 to 9 in the town of Gabtali – the location of the first Grameen Danone factory – were provided with one 60g cup of yogurt each day. The yogurt can be typically purchased for 6 Taka, or currently $0.07 U.S., in rural markets.
The study measures the impact on micronutrient deficiencies as well as growth and cognitive performance of children.
Final, peer-reviewed results are expected to be released in 2012.