Dive Brief:
- India has asked PepsiCo to take steps to help that nation improve the health of its schoolchildren, most notably by reducing the levels of sugars in its soft drinks.
- A government minister also asked PepsiCo's India-born CEO, Indra Nooyi, to have the company develop processed foods that could be distributed to schools in lieu of the traditional meals served.
- PepsiCo has not formally responded to the requests, and company spokespeople could not be reached by wire service reporters.
Dive Insight:
PepsiCo has a lot riding on India. The soda and snack maker has pledged to invest $5.5 billion on the subcontinent by 2020.
But it wouldn't be easy for PepsiCo to agree to India's requests for help with school meal and children's nutrition. India's "Midday Meals" program is riddled with corruption, tainted by food-safety shortcomings and has been linked to multiple deaths. On the other hand, PepsiCo is being offered a chance to do enormous good in a way that could help millions of kids.
The most likely scenario that may happen would be PepsiCo's foodservice divisions committing research and training funds to help create new menu items and teach basic hygiene rules as India gradually revamps its Midday Meals program.