Maeil Dairies Sponsors Heartmeal Box for Phenylketonuria Patients

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-sun] Maeil Dairies announced on the 4th that it held a HeartMeal Box donation ceremony on the 3rd for children with phenylketonuria (PKU).

The HeartMeal Box was prepared with the proceeds from the HeartMeal campaign conducted by Maeil Dairies last year. The HeartMeal Box consists of four items: clothing for PKU children, a home heating tent, a Tyvek eco-friendly shopping bag, and four Maeil Dairies products that PKU children can also consume.

The HeartMeal campaign was created to raise awareness of the rare disease "congenital metabolic disorder," which affects about one in 50,000 people in Korea, and to support patients and their families. Maeil Dairies also held a dining event called the "HeartMeal Dinner" for patients and families who find it difficult to eat out, but since last year, considering the difficulty of gatherings due to COVID-19, they decided to focus on the HeartMeal Box.

Maeil Dairies conducted the HeartMeal campaign throughout December last year and sold the "HeartMeal Warm Water Bag," using all the proceeds to prepare the HeartMeal Box. A total of 1,000 HeartMeal Warm Water Bags were sold during the month.

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a rare congenital metabolic disorder in which the enzyme that breaks down essential nutrients such as protein is deficient or not produced. Therefore, children with PKU cannot freely consume breast milk, rice, bread, meat, etc., and must obtain nutrients throughout their lives only through special formula or low-protein foods.

Meanwhile, since 1999, Maeil Dairies has developed 12 types of special formula tailored to eight symptoms for children with congenital metabolic disorders, the first in Korea, and remains the only domestic manufacturer producing and supplying these products. In addition, Maeil Dairies carries out various social contribution activities, including the HeartMeal campaign, to improve social awareness of congenital metabolic disorders.