Nutritious food blends and snacks for young children up for grabs

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.