The education programme "Akademie für Ernährung und Lebensmittelqualität" started in 2005 / 06 in Vienna. The aim is to give practical information on nutrition, especially for 'Kindergarten'-pedagogues who work with young children, aged 3 to 7. The training includes five half day workshops, held by nutritionists and dietetics. All participants have to run a nutrition-test worked out by the Austrian federation of Nutrition (ÖGE) afterwards.

The nutrition training course is an initiative of the City of Vienna and the Network Nutrition Vienna in cooperation with the Austrian Federation of Nutrition - ÖGE and the University of Vienna -Department of Nutrition IfEW. Nestlé Austria is one of the three major sponsors (Nestlé, Danone, Gourmet) of these workshops. Nestlé Austria supports the project not only by sponsorship but also provides educational material (including presentation materials) and various brochures with lots of interesting nutrition-information as well as a poster with the nutrition-pyramid to the participants.

Eating habits are settled during the first years of live. It is very important that persons who have influence on the foods provided to children, especially in full-time care, have at least a basic knowledge and practice on balanced diet.

In the first year 4 courses (each one consisting of 5 workshops) took place, each with about 20 persons. In 2006 / 07 5 courses (20-25 persons) were held, 120 persons all together. Nearly 70 % finished the workshops with success. In 2007 / 08 5 courses were held and this year 112 people were trained (only 7 participants didn't succeed). 2008 / 09 there will be also 5 courses.

The aim for 2007 / 08 was to build up a training program for some of the other federal states of Austria. By this year the City of Carinthia has overtaken the programme and will start with the first workshops in October.

We will go on with our sponsorship for this programme in 2009.