Truvia® and World Food Programme Launch Online Campaign to Fight Childhood Hunger in Bolivia

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning today, on World Food Day, Truvia^®   consumers can help fight hunger and improve nutrition for schoolchildren in Bolivia, where two-thirds of the population lives below the poverty line.[1]  By logging on to sharingasweetfuture.com, consumers can send children in Bolivia a note of encouragement and inspiration. For every note sent, the Truvia^®  business will donate $1 toward World Food Programme's "Sustainable School Meals" program in Bolivia- up to $300,000 in the first year.

"South America is a vital region for the Truvia^® business because it is where the stevia plant originated," said Zanna McFerson, vice president and business director for the Truvia^® business. "Our business is built with a responsibility to the communities where we operate. With 'Sharing a Sweet Future,' we hope to share in the future of these children and provide the nutrition they need to succeed while helping establish sustainable, thriving communities."

The majority of Bolivia's children do not receive the minimum daily caloric intake and suffer from nutritional deficiencies. [2] Through its partnership with World Food Program USA, the Truvia^® business will support the daily provision of well-balanced school meals to more than 30,000 Bolivian schoolchildren. It also will provide funding for the purchase of 240 energy efficient clean cook stoves to be installed in schools' on-site kitchens.

"Hunger is solvable but we can't do it alone," said Nancy Roman, Director of Private Sector Partnerships at the World Food Programme. "Consumers around the globe want to engage in global social issues and businesses like Truvia^® are enabling them to do good in the world. By supporting hungry school children in Bolivia, together we are helping to build the bodies and brains of the next generation." 

The "Sharing a Sweet Future" campaign is one element of the Truvia^® brand's comprehensive corporate responsibility program. As the leading stevia brand, the business is committed to sourcing responsibly, stewarding natural resources and working to improve communities.

About the Truvia^® business
Truvia^® natural sweetener is a great tasting, zero-calorie sweetener made with the best tasting part of the stevia leaf. Truvia^® natural sweetener is #1 in its category of zero-calorie natural sweeteners in the U.S. and is also available to consumers in Europe and Latin America. Truvia^® stevia leaf extract is also a versatile sweetening ingredient used to reduce calories and sugar in foods and beverages. The Truvia^® business uniquely manages its stevia supply chain from Field to Table having established a global agricultural standard for stevia. For more information, visit www.truvia.com.

About Cargill
Cargill is an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services. Founded in 1865, the privately held company employs 142,000 people in 65 countries. Cargill helps customers succeed through collaboration and innovation, and is committed to applying its global knowledge and experience to help meet economic, environmental and social challenges wherever it does business. Through its longtime, $14 million partnership with World Food Programme, Cargill is working to improve the health and nutrition of people in need around the world.  For more information, visit http://www.cargill.com/corporate-responsibility/food-security/index.jsp

About World Food Programme
World Food Programme is the largest humanitarian organization fighting hunger worldwide. World Food Program USA rallies American supporters, companies and leaders to raise funds and shape public policy to fight hunger around the world, helping reach 90 million people in over 70 countries.  Learn more at: www.wfpusa.org

[1] World Food Programme data

[2] World Food Programme data

SOURCE Truvia(R) natural sweetener