As the Philippines ushers in National Children’s Month this November, renewed calls were made to focus on bridging the alarming nutritional gap in Filipino children.
The 2023 report of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) revealed that 21.3% of Filipino children aged 5-10 years old are underweight, 8.4% have muscle wasting, and 12.9% are either overweight or obese. These numbers are higher compared to their 2021 data.
This was echoed in the February 2025 research of Thrive, a non-profit organization with an international board and advisory council, which said that childhood malnutrition remains a critical issue in the Philippines.
Dr. Yvonne Marie Ferrer, FEIHE Philippines’ Medical Affairs Head, echoed the calls to address children’s nutritional challenges, especially during early childhood, which is a period of rapid growth and development. She said that if parents miss out on this chance to support the child’s growth and development during early childhood, there could be a risk for lesser opportunities to excel later in life.
Dr. Ferrer said that one effective and simple step to help close the nutritional gap is for school-aged children to consume one to two glasses of milk daily, explaining that milk offers a lot of nutritional benefits for optimal growth and development.
However, a recent FNRI study showed that only half of the population of Filipino children consume milk daily and Dr. Ferrer said that this is a cause for concern.
“Parents should not miss out on the milk benefits for their children as an essential food and nutritional source. Not drinking milk on a daily basis may leave lasting consequences on children’s health and learning potential,” she said.
However, Dr. Ferrer said that not all milk is created the same and advised parents to be mindful about the milk they give their kids.
“Fresh milk formula would be a great choice for growing kids such as AceKid Activegro. Unlike conventional milk formulas which go through numerous heating treatments in their milk manufacturing, AceKid fresh milk formula has a game changer farm-to-can process. High heat treatment and storage required in conventional milk manufacturing degrade nutrients, and even leads to loss of some essential nutrients needed for the child’s growth and development. With FEIHEs single step process, heat treatment and storage are lessened, resulting in retention of milk’s natural nutrients,” Dr. Ferrer explained.
“Parents would also be happy to know that AceKid does not contain sucrose and maltodextrin, preventing early tooth decay and picky eating due to the sweet taste conditioning and the possibility of having diabetes later in life,” she adds.
More importantly, Dr. Ferrer said AceKid ActiveGro is produced from the pristine “golden milk source belt” at 47° North Latitude. This region is known for its fertile black soil, rich in nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, calcium, and magnesium—ideal for growing high-quality feed for dairy cows.
“Cows fed with crops from this golden dairy source produce milk that is naturally more nutrient-rich,” Dr. Ferrer said.
“In choosing milk for their kids, parents should also pay attention to the milk’s texture, smell and solubility as children tend to reject milk that smells strong or feels clumpy,” she advised.
AceKid ActiveGro is processed using fresh milk formula, retaining the natural aroma of milk and its nutrients. The single step approach also leads to easy solubility of the milk when mixed with water. All these features make it easy for mothers to convince their children to drink milk, according to several testimonies of mothers.
As Filipino families continue to navigate the nutritional gap challenges, AceKid ActiveGro champions a simple yet powerful call: invest in children’s nutrition, one glass of fresh milk formula at a time, positioning itself as a trusted partner in building a healthier future for the next generation.