FrieslandCampina WAMCO, makers of Peak milk have introduced yet another brand to the market, called “Peak 456” and targeted at children between the ages of 4 to 6 years. The company calls it the ‘growing up milk’.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday in Victoria Island, Lagos, the Marketing Director of FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Tarang Gupta, said that “Peak 456” is one of the initiatives of the company in line with its mission to nourish Nigerians with quality dairy nutrition.

He stated that “the children are the future of our country and we need to fuel their growth with optimum nutrition. Peak 456 growing up milk is specially formulated for children age 4-6 years of age, with key nutrients crucial for brain development while ensuring their nutritional needs for growth are adequately met.

“Peak 456 is fortified with Docosohexaenoic Acid, DHA, which is an omega 3 fatty acid and its a major structural fat found in the brain and retina of the eyes. DHA influences the child’s developmental milestone such as motor skills, speech, learning, thinking and visual development. Peak 456 also provides essential vitamins, minerals, protein and carbohydrate to meet the nutritional requirement of those vital years after a child’s third birthday.”

While unveiling the product, President of Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Professor Ngozi Nnam said the years from age 4 to 6 is termed as early childhood and this is a period of rapid skeletal and muscular development as well as continuing brain growth.

L- R Past president Nutrition Society of Nigeria Prof Ignatius Onimawo, President Nutrition Society of Nigeria Professor Ngozi Nnam, Corporate Director Global Categories/CMD FrieslandCampina Mr Aj van Triest, Dr Adegboyega Ogunwale, Director Child Development Lagos State Ministry of Women affairs, Mrs Alaba Fadairo, and Marketing Director Friesland Campina WAMCO. Mr Tarang Gupta at the Launching Peak 456

L-R Corporate Director Global Categories/CMD FrieslandCampina Mr Aj van Triest, Dr Adegboyega Ogunwale, Director Child Development Lagos State Ministry of Women affairs, Mrs Alaba Fadairo, Marketing Director Friesland Campina WAMCO, Mr Tarang Gupta ,Dr John Okeniyi ,and Mrs Tolu Owolabi at the unveiling of Peak 456 in Victoria Island, Lagos

She added that studies have shown that 90% of brain growth occurs during the first five years of life and it is a crucial period when adequate nutrition is highly needed.

Professor Nnam noted that research has shown that under nutrition early in life can lead to physical and brain impairment in a child resulting in reduced capacity to learn, poor performance in school and a lifetime of lost earnings.

Another health expert, Dr. Adegboyega Ogunwale of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Ogun State, said mothers should pay more attention to the nutritional contents of foods given to their children. He said some mothers give little or no milk to the growing children, which in the long run, would affect their growth.

While speaking at the unveiling of Peak 456, he said, “Milk is a one-stop shop for nutrition. It contains nearly all the basic nutrients that a growing child needs: fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals. While it is true that most of the nutrients in milk can be found easily from other sources, such as vegetables, legumes, and seafood, milk puts them all together in a convenient package.

“Realistically, children eat or drink dairy products in greater amounts and more consistently than other foods. While whole milk is not the only way to get calcium in a child’s diet, it is the most practical way.”

Dr. John Okeniyi, a health expert said milk is considered nutrient-rich because it serves as a good source of calcium and vitamin D.