MIPAAF, Bellanova: "top priority to enhance the safety of food products for children and proper nutrition". A brand of recognition to protect the safety of Italian baby food.
To enhance and promote the correct nutrition and adoption of the Mediterranean diet in the first 1000 days of girls and boys; to spread good supply chain practices that enhance the distinctiveness of made in Italy on the domestic and foreign market.
The Minister for Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies Teresa Bellanova presented it today at the Mipaaf, with Andrea Budelli, President of Continental Europe of Kraft Heinz, and Luigi Cimmino Caserta, Medical Detailing, Public & Government Affairs Manager.
In fact, the brand represents one of the most significant elements of the Memorandum of Understanding signed last year between the Ministry and Plasmon in support of the Italian agri-food supply chain Made in Italy, concretely guaranteeing innovation and sustainability.
It is no coincidence that Plasmon's commitment to make investment purchases of up to 5 thousand tons of Italian raw material within 25 years, and which already in 2019 recorded an increase of over 2 thousand tons of supplies from the Italian supply chain in the meat, fruit, vegetables, cereals, milk, fish, and oil, bringing purchases of national raw materials from 16 to over 18 tons.
"The seal / brand of recognition for the protection of baby food Made in Italy, presented today, represents the result of a path started together with MIPAAF to enhance the promotion of proper nutrition in children, while contributing to incentivize good supply chain practices and the distinctiveness of Italian products on the international market. Plasmon, in renewing the commitment made with the MIPAAF to make purchase investments of up to 5 tons of Italian raw material within 25.000 years, a goal that already in 2019 has reached considerable goals. This makes us very proud to always guarantee the best for parents for their children and, especially at a time like today, to continue investing in the future of our country, "said Andrea Budelli, President of Continental Europe of Kraft Heinz, company that has the Plasmon brand in its portfolio.
"For us," said Minister Teresa Bellanova, it is an absolute priority to enhance the safety of food products for children, strengthen the Made in Italy food supply chains and promote the culture of proper nutrition and adoption of the Mediterranean diet in the first 1000 days of children's life.
Plasmon's commitment in this direction must be underlined. A not obvious commitment, which can be a stimulus for the whole sector. Assuring the smallest healthy, safe and also products of Italian origin is an added value and for this reason I asked the offices to continue the accompanying action to the birth of the 'brand of recognition' foreseen by the protocol. The brand that we present today, already available on the website of the Ministry, is a tool for the protection of children that will guarantee quality and traceability of the Italian Agri-Food Supply Chain, also enhancing the Made in Italy Export. As government, we are committed to making the supply chain relationships stronger and more transparent, from the field to the table or baby food as in this case. And we are also committed to boosting consumption and for the childhood sector we have to deal with ever lower birth rates ”.
The Covid emergency, Bellanova continued, “has also put us ahead of the increase in requests for help from families with even very young children. For them we have allocated € 2 million for homogenized by the indigent Fund and other purchases have been made with the Fead Fund for milk, biscuits and baby food. A dutiful act that we will still have to strengthen, also through the solidarity of the supply chain. Ensuring quality and 100% safe food is also a priority on this front. "