High-Protein Soy Purchased for Children in Three Countries
Children in Cambodia, Guatemala and Senegal to Share in Nutritional Benefits
Children in Cambodia, Guatemala and Senegal may live in three very different regions of the world, but thousands of children in each will soon share in more nutritious meals made with U.S. textured soy protein. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is buying 470 metric tons of textured soy protein (tsp) from Cargill in response to requests from three different international organizations for their school feeding programs where the soy will provide much-needed protein and other nutritional benefits.

USDA is purchasing the tsp through the George McGovern-Robert Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition program. Cargill’s Cedar Rapids facility will bag the tsp for shipment in December. “These purchases requested for such diverse countries demonstrate the power of soy to improve diets around the world,” said WISHH Executive Director Jim Hershey. “The textured soy protein can be easily added to foods that are already popular in these countries. Soy can be part of the solution for children to grow and learn.”

The tsp Cargill is producing is 52 percent protein, and, when cooked, has the texture of ground beef. It will add much-needed protein to meals prepared for school children who rarely have the opportunity to eat meat. “Cargill is again pleased to partner with the private voluntary organizations who will be able to improve thousands of children’s lives with this high-protein ingredient,” said Cargill Texturizing Solutions Soy Protein Development Lead Gregg Nelson.

Food For The Poor (FFP), Inc. will receive 300 metric tons of tsp to continue their school feeding program in Guatemala. "In 2006 more than 69,500 people in Guatemala benefited from the nutritious textured soy protein shipped by Food For The Poor," said Robin Mahfood, president of Food For The Poor. "Education is the beginning of the end of poverty," stated Mahfood. "Food For The Poor's experience with extremely malnourished children has taught us how important a diet including protein is in relation to learning. Textured soy protein fulfills that protein requirement. Food For The Poor is proud to help Guatemalan children learn and gain dietary wellness, and we thank the USDA and the soybean producers for being Food For The Poor's partners in this very important work--WISHH, the private voluntary organizations, the farmers; all of us together save lives."

Salesian Missions, a not-for-profit organization working with the youth in more than 3,400 Salesian schools and universities in 135 countries around the world, will receive 120 metric tons of tsp for its school feeding program in Cambodia. Salesian Missions uses a well balanced diet, which includes soy as one of its main sources of protein in feeding programs with food provided by the U.S. Government and private donors, providing meals to the poor and underprivileged youth and the communities around the world. In Cambodia for example, the group manages a USDA-sponsored program for children, where tsp is served mixed with rice and vegetables in a stew in primary schools, and for infants a highly fortified soy milk (drink) is provided.

U.S. soy protein will improve the health of Cambodian children who will receive food in a school feeding program managed by the non-profit organization Salesian Missions. Photo credit: Luis Lazo/ Salesian Missions

Salesian Missions uses a well balanced diet, which includes soy as one of its main sources of protein. In Cambodia for example, the group manages a USDA-sponsored program for children, where textured soy protein is served mixed with rice and vegetables in a stew in primary schools, and for infants a highly fortified soy milk (drink) is provided. Photo credit: Luis Lazo/ Salesian Missions

U.S. soy protein will improve the health of Cambodian children who will receive food in a school feeding program managed by the non-profit organization Salesian Missions. Photo credit: Luis Lazo/ Salesian Missions

Nearly half way around the globe from Cambodia, Counterpart International will use 50 metric tons of tsp in its school feeding program in the West African country of Senegal. "The use of high protein soy in the diets of children in Northern Senegal will have a striking developmental impact,” said Counterpart International Vice President for Global Agriculture and Economic Growth David Cohen. “The nutritional benefit of including textured soy in school children's midday meal will not only make them healthier, the meals will be an incentive for the children to attend and stay in school and it will improve their ability to learn."

Photo credit: Counterpart International

Photo credit: Counterpart International

Photo credit: Counterpart International

About WISHH
Soy protein’s value to developing countries is exactly why state and other soybean grower organizations created the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) program in 2000. WISHH is headquartered at the American Soybean Association in St. Louis, and it creates sustainable solutions for the protein demands of people in developing countries through the introduction and use of U.S. soy products. WISHH has worked in 23 countries, ranging from Africa to Asia to Latin America, to improve diets as well as encourage growth of food industries. For more information, please visit www.wishh.org.

For more information, contact: Karen Edwards, World Initiative for Soy in Human Health, (703) 281-7600

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Lester’s Story
Courtesy of Food for the Poor

October 2007

Lester was nursed back to health at a children's home in Guatemala with nutritious foods, including textured soy protein, provided by Food For The Poor. Robin Mahfood, president of Food For The Poor, thanks U.S. soybean growers and others for helping make a long-term difference in the lives of children.
 
Lester's parents refused to listen to the doctor's grim pronunciation, "He isn't worth taking care of because he is going to die." At 13 months, Lester weighed just nine pounds and was suffering from diarrhea, vomiting, pneumonia and parasites. There was little hope of saving him. But his parents refused to watch him die and brought him to Sister Ana Cristina. She and her staff worked diligently to coax life back into the dying baby.
 
Today, Lester is a healthy, thriving child who runs about, flashes a rare smile at visitors and acts like any normal toddler. This precious baby boy, once dismissed as not "worth taking care of" is a reflection of one nun's dedication to saving children through hard work, prayer and faith.

Lester before		Lester after