By Kristian Jebsen B. Bandong
FNRI-DOST S & T Media Service
The
Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the
Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), in its continuing effort in
addressing malnutrition, developed a technology for making affordable
nutritious snacks for children.
Complementary foods,
according to the FNRI-DOST, are foods or liquids other than breastmilk fed to
young children.
These foods address mothers’
concerns on how to feed their babies six months old and onward when their
nutritional needs are rapidly increasing.
It is at this stage when malnutrition
usually sets in, thereby affecting children’s health.
Using tried and tested
technology and locally-available raw materials, the FNRI developed
complementary and snack foods that are based on rice and mongo, which are rich
in energy and protein.
In visits conducted in the
regions, the FNRI urged local government units and entrepreneurs to adopt the
technologies as part of their health and nutrition program.
Adopting the FNRI’s
complementary food and snack entitles entrepreneurs to FNRI technical support,
such as proper layout of the production area, hands-on training on the
appropriate processing technology, technology transfer contract including
quality control assurance from raw materials to finished product, and basics of
Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) implementation.
The DOST Package for the
Improvement of Nutrition of Young Children (PINOY) Program aims to reduce the
prevalence of undernutrition among 6 to 35 months old children through
production and technology transfer of complementary food blends and snacks.
The FNRI-DOST provides
technical assistance to local government units, non-government and private
organizations who are interested to produce the complementary food blends and
snacks for livelihood and for their feeding program.
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; Telephone/ Fax Nos.: 837-2934 or 837-3164;
Direct Line:839-1839; DOST Trunk Line: 837-2071-82 local 2296 or 2284; e-mail: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph or at mar_v_c@yahoo.com; FNRI-DOST website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. Like our
Facebook page at facebook.com/FNRI.DOST or follow our Twitter account at
twitter.com/FNRI_DOST.
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