Skip to main content

The power of food fortification

Image
By
By Celina Ann Z. Javier
FNRI-DOST S & T Media Service

Through the years, vitamin A deficiency (VAD), iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) remained significant nutritional problems of the country.
One of the solutions in fighting micronutrient malnutrition is food fortification.

Food fortification is the addition of micronutrients like vitamin A, iron and iodine to foods widely consumed by the population. 

Food fortification aims to increase the micronutrient intake to prevent nutrient deficiencies.
Several laws have been enacted with regards to food fortification, like Republic Act 8172, which is an act for salt iodization all over the Philippines. 

On the other hand, Republic Act 8976 known as the Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000, calls for mandatory food fortification of rice with iron, wheat flour with vitamin A and iron, and cooking oil with vitamin A. 

RA 8976 also encourages voluntary food fortification of processed food. Fortified food products have Sangkap Pinoy Seal (SPS) in their packaging. 

The triangular SPS is used for the mandatory food fortification of food staple namely rice, flour and cooking oil. 

The rectangular SPS is for voluntary food fortification of processed food like noodles, biscuits and chips. 
According to the results of the 7th National Nutrition Survey (NNS) in 2008 by FNRI-DOST only 11.6 percent of households is aware of the SPS and the remaining 88.4 percent of households is not aware of the SPS.

Usage of iodized salt based on the 2008 NNS is 78.5 percent awareness level among households but only 41.9 percent was actually using it. 

There was also a decrease in the number of households who were aware and were actual users of iodized salt. Awareness level decreased from 83.4 to 78.5 percent from 2005 to 2008. Actual utilization of iodized salt, reduced from 49.2 to 41.9 percent in the two reference years.

Based on the data, it is evident that there is really a need to increase the awareness level of the public on the benefits of fortified foods. 

One proof that food fortification can really address a malnutrition problem is a study done by the FNRI-DOST.

In a study led by Dr. Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa, 1009 schoolchildren 6 to 12 years old from two randomly-selected school in Tacloban City, Leyte were fed with ready-to-drink juice fortified with iron, zinc, lysine, vitamin A and C for 120 days. 

Before and after the feeding, data on hemoglobin level, weight and height were collected.

Based on the results, the prevalence of anemia significantly decreased after 120 days of feeding while the average change in weight and height significantly increased. 

This is proof that food fortification is an effective strategy in fighting malnutrition. 

Let us not underestimate the power of food fortification because it contributes largely to the eradication of micronutrient deficiencies.

For more information on food and nutrition, contact: Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City. E-mail: mcv@fnri.dost.gov.ph, Telefax: 837-2934 and 827-3164, or call: 8372071 local 2296 or visit our website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By
By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd  of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become...
9 comments
Read more

Free dormitories eyed for Nueva Era students in LC, Batac

By
 Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Nueva Era , Ilocos Norte—The municipal government here, headed by Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida is planning to establish dormitories in the cities of Laoag and Batac that will exclusively cater to college students from the said cities. “Sapay la kuma ta maituloyen iti mabiit tay ar-arapaapen tayo ken iti munisipyo a maipatakderan kuma dagiti annak tayo a college students nga agbasbasa idiay siyudad iti Batac ken Laoag iti libre a dormitoryo a bukod da ngem inggana nga awan pay ket an-anusan mi paylaeng nga ibaklay kenni apo bise mayor iti pagbayad da iti kasera aggapu iti bukod mi a suweldo malaksid dagitay it-ited iti munisipyo ken iti barangay nga stipend da kada semester, ” Garvida said.    Garvida added that the proposed establishment of dormitories would be a big help to the students’ parents as this would shoulder the expenses of their children for rent and likewise they would feel...
Post a Comment
Read more

P29 per kilo rice sold to vulnerable groups in Ilocos region

By
BBM RICE. Residents buy rice for only PHP29 per kilo at the NIA compound in San Nicolas town, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. The activity was under a nationwide pilot program of the government to sell quality and affordable rice initially to the vulnerable sectors. (Lei Adriano) San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte —Senior citizens, persons with disability, and solo parents availed of cheap rice sold at PHP29 per kilogram during the grand launching of the Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) Rice held at the National Irrigation Administration compound in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. “ Maraming salamat Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa inyong pagmamahal sa Region 1 lalong-lalo na sa bayan namin sa San Nicolas,” said Violeta Pasion, a resident Brgy.   18 Bingao in this town. The low-priced grains were sourced from the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) contract farming with irrigators' association members in the province. Along with Pasion, Epi...
Post a Comment
Read more