Nestlé’s Maggi brand travels Central and West Africa to provide nutrition expertise and healthy eating tips to people.

Photo: ‘Cooking Caravan’s’ workshop, from Nestlé’s Flickr photostream

The project called ‘Cooking Caravans’ is travelling through Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria, providing consumers with information about balanced diets, micronutrient deficiency and culinary hygiene.

Each of five caravans features up to ten Maggi employees and contractors who travel to towns and cities promoting activities and homemade cooking. The activities include interactive cooking demonstrations, women’s forums, group discussions etc. Maggi that celebrated its 125th anniversary last year produces a wide range of products including bouillons and seasonings in West Africa.

Over a third of people living in developing countries are affected by micronutrient deficiencies of iron, vitamin A, iodine and zinc. With the initiative, Nestlé tries to help solve the problem.

“The Cooking Caravan is also helping us reach out to people to make them aware about the problems of micronutrient deficiency, which can have huge effects on health,” said Maarten Geraets, Business Executive Manager for Maggi in the Central and West Africa region.

“Maggi is a well-known Nestlé brand which offers Popularly Positioned Products (PPP) to people on lower incomes. These locally-adapted, affordable and nutritional products are fortified with essential nutrients and minerals.”

The ‘Cooking Caravans’ program is expected to be rolled out to other countries in West Africa this year.