On the 23rd May, ahead of the World Health Assembly in Geneva, The Consumer Goods Forum’s Health and Sustainability Director, Sharon Bligh, along with NGO partner, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), convened with key representatives from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Bangladesh, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). This meeting brought together government, business, UN agencies, and civil society which underscored the vast opportunities that emerge when health and labour align. Central to the discussion was the need to develop practical guidance for businesses on what constitutes ‘good nutrition’ in the workplace, spanning different worksite contexts and life stages.

The group discussed immediate and long-term actions — from making nutrition a priority in WHO and ILO standard-setting processes, to embedding measurable nutrition indicators in international monitoring frameworks. The discussion highlighted the harsh reality that 80 percent of the world’s poor live in rural areas emphasising the urgent need for solutions, such as the creating and enhancing of workforce nutrition programmes. This is why the Workforce Nutrition Alliance assists companies in creating and enhancing workforce nutrition programmes through several key services, such as the newly released Smallholder Farmer Scorecard. 

Bligh said, “The private sector has a critical role in advancing workforce nutrition. By collaborating with international organisations like the WHO and ILO, we can turn shared ambition into concrete action — improving health outcomes, and driving long-term productivity across global supply chains.”

Lawrence Haddad, Executive Director at GAIN said, “Workforce nutrition is not a side issue. It is fundamental to thriving economies and resilient supply chains. By uniting governments, businesses, the ILO, and WHO, we can drive real change:  improving lives, health, and livelihoods at scale.”

Participants emphasised that nutrition is not only a workforce issue, but also an imperative for the entire supply chain, given that malnutrition has been linked to high productivity losses. The group also explored the role of workforce nutrition in addressing non-communicable diseases (NCDs), obesity and mental health, with new upcoming evidence reinforcing its far-reaching impact.

To learn more about the Coalition’s work and ongoing efforts on dietary shifts and workforce nutrition, visit our website.

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About The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF):

The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) is the only CEO-led organisation that represents both consumer goods manufacturers and retailers globally. It brings together senior leaders from over 400 retailers, manufacturers and other stakeholders across 70 countries. The CGF accelerates change through nine Coalitions of Action: Collaboration for Healthier Lives, Food Waste, Forest Positive, Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), Human Rights, Plastic Waste, Product Data, Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative and Towards Net Zero. Its member companies have combined sales of EUR4.6 trillion and directly employ nearly 10 million people, with a further 90 million related jobs estimated along the value chain. The CGF is governed by its Board of Directors, which comprises more than 55 manufacturer and retailer CEOs.

About Workforce Nutrition Alliance (WNA):

The Workforce Nutrition Alliance (WNA) was launched in October 2019 by The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) to help employers ensure their employees have access to and knowledge about healthy nutrition, breastfeeding support and nutrition-focused health checks. The Workforce Nutrition Alliance’s aim is to support employers to adopt and expand healthier workforce nutrition programmes. WNA has reached six million workers through advocacy
and technical support,with a goal to reach ten million by 2030.

About Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN):

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the United Nations in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. Working with governments, businesses and civil society, we aim to transform food systems so that they deliver more nutritious foods for all people, especially the most vulnerable. For more information visit: www.gainhealth.org

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