• Reached 4,200 beneficiaries including women, adolescents and children
• The project is set to impact the lives of over 40,000 individuals across 10 villages in Kosi Kalan
• Buddhi Mishra, District Program Officer, Mathura, graced the occasion as chief guest, emphasizing the significance of collaborative efforts

Mathura, January 21, 2025: PepsiCo India, in partnership with Smile Foundation, announced the launch of ‘Pink Smile’, a project aimed at combating anaemia and malnutrition. Focused on enhancing healthcare accessibility and availability, the initiative in its early stage has impacted 4,200 beneficiaries including women, adolescents and children. Mrs. Buddhi Mishra, District Program Officer, Mathura, graced the occasion as the chief guest in the presence of dignitaries, including Mr. Sachin Sharma, Medical Officer In-charge of the Chatta block, Mr. Naresh Kumar, Development Officer of the Chatta block, and Ms. Rukmadi, Child Development Program Officer of the Nandgaon block.

Aligned with PepsiCo India’s guiding principle, “Partnership of Progress – Unnati ki Sajhedari,” the program outreach will be conducted in collaboration with frontline workers and Aanganwadis. It will also contribute to the local administration’s efforts towards Anaemia Mukt Bharat and reducing Kuposhan (malnutrition). The ‘Pink Smile’ program aims to impact over 40,000 individuals across 10 villages in Kosi, Uttar Pradesh.

In line with the government’s mission to improve maternal and child health, the ‘Pink Smile’ project seeks to address critical gaps in healthcare delivery, primarily through Mobile Medical Units (MMU) providing curative, preventive, and promotive services. Program interventions will include anemia screening, specialized teleconsultation, and nutrition distribution, set to benefit vulnerable populations—particularly women, adolescents, and children by enhancing their health-seeking behavior and providing timely interventions for anemia and malnutrition.

Yashika Singh, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer and Sustainability Head, PepsiCo India and South Asia, shared, “The ‘Pink Smile’ project embodies PepsiCo India’s ‘Partnership of Progress’, where we work alongside organizations like Smile Foundation and local bodies to create meaningful and enduring impact in communities. This initiative goes beyond addressing anemia and malnutrition; it is a step toward building a sustainable model for healthcare access with long-term benefits. Together, we are laying the foundation for a healthier, anemia-free future for women, children, and adolescents in Uttar Pradesh.”

Speaking at the launch, Mrs. Buddhi Mishra, District Program Officer, Mathura, and the chief guest for the event, said “PepsiCo India and Smile Foundation are doing commendable work through the ‘Pink Smile’ project, addressing critical issues of anemia and malnutrition in rural India. This initiative complements the government’s ongoing efforts and strengthens the healthcare systems at the grassroots level. By working together, we can ensure timely interventions and create sustainable solutions to eradicate malnutrition and anemia, improving the health and well-being.”

The project’s multi-faceted approach includes:

• Specialized teleconsultations for women, adolescents, and children, providing them with expert medical guidance remotely.
• Anaemia screening camps that will be held fortnightly, in addition to regular health camps, to identify early cases of anemia and malnutrition.
• Nutrition education and distribution, featuring low-cost high-nutrition recipes, which will empower local communities to combat malnutrition effectively.
• Establishment of kitchen gardens to promote sustainable nutrition practices within households.
• Training of frontline workers to help raise awareness and provide necessary skills to combat anemia and malnutrition within local communities.

Santanu Mishra, Co-founder of Smile Foundation, shared, “Through the collaboration with PepsiCo India, we are seeing a direct impact on the healthcare aspects of the communities we serve. The comprehensive healthcare services provided through the Mobile Medical Unit will go a long way in complementing the government’s efforts of eradicating anemia and malnutrition, especially in rural India. It is inspiring to witness how a unified approach can help bridge gaps in augmenting access to health and awareness.”

Since its inception, the project has been received with enthusiasm from local communities, with over 478 individuals screened for anemia and 214 children screened for malnutrition. The distribution of essential nutritional support has reached 125 children in the covered villages.

About Smile Foundation:

Smile Foundation is an Indian development organization directly benefiting over 1.5 million children and their families every year through more than a thousand welfare projects on education, healthcare, skilling, and women empowerment spread across 2,000 villages and communities in 28 states.

About PepsiCo: 

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $91 billion in net revenue in 2023, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.