Arnott's Cookies of Milk Sweeten Lives of Ethiopian Children

Nutritious, high-energy milk biscuits developed to help young Africans affected by the AIDS virus

THREE CHEERS FOR MILK "BIKKIES!" After just one week of eating two Arnott's milk biscuits ("bikkies") every day, little Bumnuit, a severely malnourished Ethiopian AIDS orphanage resident, showed a dramatic increase in energy levels, and for the first time began playing with other children.

In the rural northeast African country of Ethiopia, roughly 30 percent of all deaths are related to the AIDS virus. Almost one in 10 of the more than 70 million residents is HIV-positive. At least 200,000 of those are under 15 years of age, and overall, thousands of Ethiopian children have been orphaned by the disease.

Among the significant issues caregivers face is finding a sufficient supply of foods that are both appealing and appropriate for these children's specific nutritional needs.

In Australia, Melbourne scientist and Ph.D. candidate Richard Nasra has taken on this challenge, and last year he approached the Arnott's team to provide specially formulated milk biscuits for Ethiopian children. The biscuits are seen as "ready to eat," easy to transport and store, and, perhaps most important, tempting for children.