Young Global Leaders launch Calorie Offset program

MANILA, Philippines - The Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum (WEF) launched yesterday the Calorie Offset program which aims to reduce the number of undernourished children in the Philippines.

Masa Kogure, executive director of Table for Two (TFT) International, said the project is being piloted in a primary school in Zambales, benefiting about 100 children.

TFT is a Japan-based non-profit organization that supplies meals to school cafeterias across Asia.

“Calorie Offset is a new concept and a new unit similar to offsetting carbon emissions to reduce greenhouse gasses,” Kogure said in a press conference.

He said the Calorie Offset program encourages the public to purchase healthy products.

He said they aim to raise $3.5 million in the next two years to help several children in the Philippines.

Kogure said the reduced calories are monetized in the form of donations which are then used for agricultural training, school gardens and other sustainable initiatives to improve the production of nutritious food in developing countries.

In the Philippines, TFT has partnered with the Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm Cafe in the implementation of the project.

The 2011 survey on the Nutritional Status of Filipinos conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology showed that two in every 10 children aged five and below are underweight.

Aside from food companies, the TFT said it is also partnering with fitness apparel brands, sporting events and other activities that contribute to burning calories.

Takeshi Niinami, chairman of the Japanese convenience store chain Lawson, said the company will launch joint promotions for Calorie Offset later this year.

Niinami is also one of the co-chairs of this year’s WEF on East Asia which is being held at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.