Abstract
More than 10 years ago, the Dannon Company spoke to academicians in the field of nutrition about creating a new kind of nutrition education foundation. The Dannon Institute would be a nonprofit organization led by senior leaders in the field of nutrition and executives of the company. The organization planned to develop programs highlighting the links among nutrition, diet, and health and to disseminate this knowledge to the general public. In 1997, the institute was officially launched as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit private foundation. Key areas of focus were identified for the organization: fostering the professional development of tomorrow's leaders in nutrition and increasing nutrition knowledge among medical professionals, educators, and parents. These areas continue as the institute's focus today, although programs have been added or discontinued over time to reflect emerging issues in the field of nutrition. The year 2007 marked the Dannon Institute's 10th anniversary. This article provides a brief history of the institute and highlights its programs over its first 10 years.