Iron Deficiency Can Disrupt Children's Learning and Activity

Parents need to pay attention to their children’s iron intake, as iron deficiency can trigger iron-deficiency anaemia that affects growth and development. Iron plays an important role in the formation of haemoglobin, which carries oxygen throughout the body, including the brain.

Paediatrician Dr Ria Yoanita said adequate iron is linked to various aspects of child development, from activity levels to learning ability. “Iron plays an important role in the formation of haemoglobin to deliver oxygen throughout the body, including the brain. Adequate iron greatly influences activity, learning ability, and age-appropriate development in children,” Ria said during a nutrition education event held in Jakarta on Thursday (27/8/2026).

According to her, iron needs should be met through a balanced diet. Parents can provide iron sources from various foods, such as red meat, fish, eggs, and green vegetables.

In addition to relying on food, Ria said parents may consider milk fortified with iron and containing a combination of nutrients that support absorption, such as vitamin C, according to the child’s needs.

She also reminded parents to be more careful when choosing packaged food products by reading nutrition labels. This step is important to ensure that products given to children contain nutrients appropriate to their needs.

The warning about iron adequacy was delivered as part of a series of nutrition education and family activities organised by PT Sarihusada Generasi Mahardhika (Sarihusada) together with Raja Susu at 17 locations across Greater Jakarta. One of the activities took place at the Raja Susu Flagship Store in PIK on Thursday (27/8/2026).

The activities included nutrition education with health experts, educational games for mothers and children, and simultaneous milk-drinking sessions at 17 locations. The series of events also marked 72 years of Sarihusada’s journey in supporting Indonesian families.

General Secretary Director of Danone Indonesia, Agung Laksamana, said the company’s journey of more than seven decades has been part of efforts to respond to the evolving nutritional needs of the community. “Since our founding in 1954, our goal has remained the same: to improve the nutritional quality of Indonesian children. Over more than seven decades, we have helped nourish more than 75 million children,” Agung said.

He considers the role of parents, especially mothers, important in determining children’s nutritional fulfilment at the family level. According to him, daily decisions about food and nutrition contribute to children’s growth and development.

Meanwhile, Sales Director of Danone Specialized Nutrition Indonesia, Rizki Imam Ardhi, said meeting children’s nutritional needs requires the involvement of various parties. According to him, education for parents must go hand in hand with the availability of access to products and nutritional information.

“Providing the best nutrition for Indonesian children is not only about presenting quality products, but also ensuring a complete range of nutrition from birth to school age, with formulations designed according to children’s needs, easily accessible to parents, and nutrition education,” Rizki said.