Heinz News: New Report Shows ``Sprinkles'' Are Working to Prevent and Treat Childhood Nutrition Epidemic.

Business Editors

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 26, 2003

(NYSE:HNZ)

Nutritional Supplement Developed by

Hospital for Sick Children Scientist Treats Childhood Anemia

A new report published in the Canadian Paediatric Society's Paediatrics & Child Health journal shows that adding Supplefer Sprinkles to children's meals is already working to reduce the rate of iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) around the world. Supplefer Sprinkles contain iron, vitamin C and other nutrients and are packaged in a single-dose sachet to be "sprinkled" onto food. The report, published on February 28 and titled "'Home-fortification' with Micronutrient Sprinkles - A New Approach for the Prevention and Treatment of Nutritional Anemias," was written by Stanley Zlotkin, M.D., a senior scientist in The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute in Toronto, Canada. The report's findings are being made available for Anemia Awareness Week in Canada (March 24-28, 2003), which focuses on raising awareness of anemia as a potentially serious condition.

"Iron-deficiency anemia continues to be a pervasive and largely unaddressed global health problem, affecting more than two billion people or roughly one third of the world's population," said Dr. Zlotkin, a professor of Paediatrics and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto. "In fact, in Canada and the United States, roughly five percent of children aged one to five suffer from IDA. However, a new breakthrough nutritional supplement called Supplefer Sprinkles is working to address this worldwide health issue."

Dr. Zlotkin's long-term goal is to make Supplefer Sprinkles a globally available option for infants and children to aid in the reduction of IDA. "This breakthrough is important for the health and livelihood of children in developing countries," Dr. Zlotkin said. "The H.J. Heinz Company Foundation is funding Sprinkles projects over three years. In addition, the Heinz Company is providing technical assistance and significant financial support."

Supplefer Sprinkles are inexpensive to produce and are packaged in a single-dose sachet that does not require special measuring or handling. Each sachet is designed to be sprinkled or stirred into any food, including rice, barley, congee or porridge, without affecting color or taste. Parents are encouraged to use one packet daily. Supplefer Sprinkles offer an alternative to iron drops, long-known for low compliance since they have a metallic taste, may cause abdominal pain and can stain teeth.

"Heinz, as one of the world's largest producers of single-serve sachets, is well positioned to provide assistance on manufacturing, distribution and commercial sustainability of Supplefer Sprinkles globally," said F. Kerr Dow, Ph.D., chief scientist and vice president - nutrition and technical affairs for Heinz. "This worldwide initiative is backed by a number of government agencies, humanitarian organizations, Heinz international businesses and employees, and pro bono assistance from our suppliers and consultants."

"It is important for public and private institutions to work together to develop health interventions that are both feasible and sustainable," Dr. Zlotkin said. "Our partnership with Heinz is a humanitarian initiative that appropriately links industry and public health in reducing a major global childhood problem such as iron-deficiency anemia."

The Sprinkles research program is being supported by a CDN $1.2 million grant from the H.J. Heinz Company Foundation to The Hospital for Sick Children Foundation. The research describing the development of the micronutrient sprinkles was supported by grants from USAID's OMNI Research Program through the Human Nutrition Institute of the ILSI Research Foundation, the Micronutrient Initiative (Canada), and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Dr. Zlotkin owns the intellectual property rights to Sprinkles. The H.J. Heinz Company Ltd is supporting the technical development of the sprinkles on a cost-recovery basis.

Sprinkles Studies

Dr. Zlotkin's research group developed Supplefer Sprinkles as a strategy to reduce global childhood anemia. Numerous studies have been initiated and are underway around the world to evaluate both their efficacy and acceptance:

Efficacy Studies

-- Ghana, West Africa - Efficacy studies were conducted in Ghana, West Africa, between 1998-2001. In these studies, Supplefer Sprinkles were shown to successfully treat anemia among 60-75 percent of infants within two months. In addition, Supplefer Sprinkles also were shown to be well tolerated by infants with few side effects and were well accepted by caregivers who found them easy to use.

-- Canada's First Nations and Inuit populations - With support from Health Canada, Dr. Zlotkin is assessing the efficacy of Supplefer Sprinkles among the First Nations and Inuit populations of Canada where the prevalence of IDA is as high as 32 percent. Trials are underway in Northern Canada and in communities where iron-rich foods are expensive and not readily available.

Acceptance Studies

-- Mongolia - Currently, in partnership with World Vision Canada,

Sprinkles' acceptance and distribution is being evaluated with

more than 13,000 young children in Mongolia. This 18-month

program will conclude in September 2003, and due to the

initial program's success in Mongolia, both UNICEF and the

Ministry of Health in Mongolia are actively pursuing

registration of Sprinkles so that nationwide scale-up can be

planned and executed.

-- China, Ghana, India, Mongolia and Pakistan - As an important

component of research, the acceptability of Supplefer

Sprinkles by other caregivers and children was evaluated in

Ghana and China and will continue to be evaluated in ongoing

projects in Mongolia, India and Pakistan. To date, parents

have found the sachets easy to use and more acceptable than

drops.

Anemia Facts

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), iron deficiency affects two-thirds of children in most developing nations. IDA, a result of low iron intake from the diet or losses of blood from parasitic infections, is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. IDA can lead to low hemoglobin levels, which carries oxygen to cells and tissues in the body. Numerous studies have demonstrated that even moderate anemia (hemoglobin less than 100 g/L) is associated with depressed mental and motor development in children that may not be reversible.

About the H.J. Heinz Company Foundation

Established in 1951, the H.J. Heinz Company Foundation is committed to promoting the health and nutritional needs of children and families worldwide. The foundation donates funds to develop and strengthen organizations dedicated to human service, youth & education, women & diversity, civic endeavors, the arts, and quality of life. For more information, visit http://www.heinz.com.

About Heinz

ABOUT HEINZ: H. J. Heinz Company is one of the world's leading processors and marketers of high-quality ketchup, condiments, sauces, meals, soups, snacks and infant foods through all retail and foodservice channels. A host of favorite brands, such as Heinz(R) ketchup, Ore-Ida(R) french fries, Boston Market(R) and Smart Ones(R) meals and Plasmon(R) baby food are the growth drivers in Heinz's two strategic global segments: Meal Enhancers and Meals & Snacks. Heinz's 50 companies have number-one or number-two brands in 200 countries, showcased by the Heinz(R) brand, a global consumer icon with $2.5 billion in annual sales. Fourteen additional brands, each with more than $100 million in annual sales, generate a further $2.6 billion. Information on Heinz is available at www.heinz.com/news.