SIGHT AND LIFE: Global Panel of Economists and Nutritionists Calls Hidden Hunger...

SIGHT AND LIFE: Global Panel of Economists and Nutritionists Calls Hidden Hunger a Global Crisis

Group Calls Access to Good Nutrition a Human Right
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
In the future, will the rich, able to afford a diet optimized to
their genetic makeup, become a super species, living substantially
longer than the underprivileged, or will today's society make access
to adequate nutrition a global agenda and a basic human right? These
questions and others were addressed by nearly 50 nutrition and
economic thought leaders from 11 countries Wednesday at a roundtable
held here entitled, "Hidden Hunger: Socioeconomic and Scientific
Challenges." The groundbreaking event was sponsored by SIGHT AND LIFE,
the humanitarian arm of DSM, a worldwide provider of nutritional
ingredients; the Oxygen Club of California, the Linus Pauling
Institute and USC School of Pharmacy.

"Malnutrition is a global crisis," said Stephan Tanda, a member of
the DSM Managing Board responsible for its Nutrition Cluster. "It
stunts the lives and livelihood of more than 2 billion people
worldwide afflicted by hidden hunger or malnutrition resulting from
micronutrient deficiencies."

Tanda noted a recent Lancet article suggested that feeding young
children proper nutrition would boost their earnings power as adults.
"We must determine how to sustainably provide proper nutrition to all
who are malnourished. As a leading provider of nutritional
ingredients, DSM is well positioned to be part of the solution," he
added.

Hidden hunger affects populations in nations rich and poor. In the
U.S., for example, despite flour fortification with iron and B
vitamins, iron deficiency affects 2.4 million children and is more
severe among overweight children of low socioeconomic status.(1)
Millions of US citizens (11 percent of all households) are unable to
buy nutritious food for economic reasons, according to the US
Department of Agriculture (USDA). A Canadian study suggests that this
translates into significant nutrient inadequacies among adults and
adolescents.(2 )similarly, a recent report from Mexico showed the
simultaneous risk of overweight and stunting (short linear growth from
hidden hunger) in pre-school children.(3)

The roundtable suggested a common agenda to address hidden hunger
include:

-- strategies that improve the availability of micronutrient-rich
and low cost supplementary foods;

-- all sectors of society in the developing and industrialized
worlds working together to address hidden hunger

Roundtable participants included: Daniel McFadden and Bruce N.
Ames, University of California, Berkley; USA; Alfred Sommer, Johns
Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA; Ricardo Uauy, London School of
Hygiene and Topical Medicine; UK; V. Prakash, Central Food
Technological Research Institute, India; Bert Sackmann, Max Planck
Institute, Heidelberg, Germany, the Micronutrient Initiative, Medical
Nobel Institute for Biochemistry, Stockholm, Sweden, The Council for
Responsible Nutrition, Washington, D.C., USA and others.

SIGHT AND LIFE will host a podcast series on the round table
discussions on its Web site, www.sightandlife.org. The podcasts will
be available in April.

At the round table conclusion, SIGHT AND LIFE received the Science
Frontier and Humanity award from the Oxygen Club.

About SIGHT AND LIFE

SIGHT AND LIFE, a humanitarian initiative of DSM, exists to help
combat the suffering associated with malnutrition in its many forms.
Originally founded in 1986 to fight vitamin A deficiency, it now
focuses more broadly on the key relationship between micronutrient
intake and health. SIGHT AND LIFE's vision is to build bridges for
better nutrition. Its activities include providing micronutrients to
counter inadequate nutritional intake among populations in need,
supporting educational and training programs to foster good
nutritional practice, and co-operating closely with scientific
establishments, academic institutions and healthcare organizations
(non-governmental as well as governmental) around the world. For
further company information please visit www.sightandlife.org

About DSM Nutritional Products

DSM Nutritional Products is the world's leading supplier of
vitamins, carotenoids and other fine chemicals to the feed, food,
pharmaceutical and personal care industries. The business has sales of
over EUR 2 billion and a long tradition as a pioneer in the discovery
of new products, new formulations and attractive applications for all
industry segments. For further company information please visit
www.dsmnutritionalproducts.com

About DSM

DSM creates innovative products and services in Life Sciences and
Materials Sciences that contribute to the quality of life. DSM's
products and services are used globally in a wide range of markets and
applications, supporting a healthier, more sustainable and more
enjoyable way of life. End markets include human and animal nutrition
and health, personal care, pharmaceuticals, automotive, coatings and
paint, electrics and electronics, life protection and housing. DSM has
annual sales of almost EUR 8.8 billion and employs some 23,000 people
worldwide. The company is headquartered in the Netherlands, with
locations on five continents. DSM is listed on Euronext Amsterdam.
More information about DSM can be found at www.dsm.com

(1) Brotanek JM, Gosz J, Weitzman M, Flores G. Iron deficiency in
early childhood in the United States: risk factors and racial/ethnic
disparities. Pediatrics 2007;120:568-75. 2 Kirkpatrick SI, Tarasuk V.
Food Insecurity Is Associated with Nutrient Inadequacies among
Canadian Adults and Adolescents. Nutr 2008; 138: 604 - 612 3 Fernald
LC, Neufeld LM. Overweight with concurrent stunting in very young
children from rural Mexico: prevalence and associated factors. Eur J
Clin Nutr 2007;61:623-32.

SIGHT AND LIFE
Jill Miller
+1 310 384 2305
jillmiller617@yahoo.com
or
Sheena Stephens
+1 818 519 1188
Sheena_stephens@yahoo.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008