Abstract
Global reports have attributed nearly 50% of deaths in children under the age of 5, are due to malnutrition. Childhood hunger and malnutrition continues to remain a national emergency in several countries around the world.
The ”nutribun” was introduced by USAID to combat early childhood hunger and malnutrition in the Philippines in the 1970s. This bread product, engineered at Virginia Polytechnic University by scientists and nutritionists, enriched with micronutrients and iodine, was designed to be a “ready to eat” complete meal. The implementation of the nutribun breakfast coupled with milk distribution in elementary schools led to a decrease of childhood malnutrition rates from 5% to 1% by the end of the 1970s. The nutribun and milk distribution program eventually phased out in 1997, but reintroduced in 2014 as a response to increasing rates of malnutrition in children. Currently, to address the country’s increasing food poverty rates due to their changing environmental and economic climate post COVID pandemic, an enhanced nutribun was introduced. A similar program has been implemented in Jamaica, as a response to increasing rates of malnutrition of children in the country.
This global advocacy plan addresses the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal of ending hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture. Modeling the plan of the nutribun creation and implementation’s initial success in the 1970s in eradicating childhood hunger and malnutrition in the Philippines, is a potential solution in other countries facing similar rates of food poverty, childhood hunger, and malnutrition. This presentation provides an overview that strategizes the necessity of the identification of natural food resources by country, with cultural and religious considerations; the need for collaboration with non-governmental organizations (NGOs); and the continued need to increase global public awareness and education of the negative effects of early childhood hunger and malnutrition.
Sigma Membership
Mu Chi
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document, Video Recording
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Childhood Malnutrition, Malnutrition in Children, Malnutrition, Hunger, Nutribun, UN Sustainable Development Goal 2, Sustainability, Sustainable Development Goals (United Nations)
Recommended Citation
Reyes, Sofia Maria, "Eradicating Childhood Hunger Through the Distribution of “Nutribun”" (2026). Global Advocacy. 21.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/ga_series/21
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Rights Holder
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Review Type
Faculty/Mentor Approved: Sigma Academy Participant Poster
Acquisition
Self-submission
Date of Issue
2026-07-07
Full Text of Presentation
wf_yes
Description
Dr. Reyes was a participant in the Sigma Virtual Mini-Academy: Global Advocacy April 28-June 2, 2026