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RP observes National Food Fortification Day on November 7

Tacloban City (November 1 2010) -- The whole country commemorates November 7 as Food Fortification Day pursuant to Executive Order 382.

The Food Fortification program is the government's response to the growing micronutrient malnutrition, which has been prevalent in the Philippines for the past several years.

The Department of Health said that Food Fortification is the addition of Sangkap Pinoy or micronutrients such as Vitamin A, Iron and/or Iodine to food, whether or not they are normally contained in the food, for the purpose of preventing or correcting a demonstrated deficiency with one or more nutrients in the population or specific population groups.

Sangkap Pinoy or micronutrients are vitamins and minerals required by the body in very small quantities. These are essential in maintaining a strong, healthy and active body; sharp mind; and for women to bear healthy children.

Past studies have shown that worldwide, the problem of malnutrition has been the cause of death of 60% of children less than 5 years old, the Department of Health said.

For the Philippines, nutrition surveys have been showing increasing prevalence of micronutrient malnutrition, particularly that of Vitamin A Deficiency Disorder (VADD), Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) and Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) among children and women of reproductive age, who the most at-risk groups to micronutrient malnutrition are.

To address this problem, the Philippines has embarked on a three-pronged strategy of micronutrient supplementation, dietary diversification and food fortification. While all strategies are simultaneously implemented to complement one another, studies show that food fortification is the most cost-effective and sustainable to address micronutrient malnutrition.

The result of the 7th National Nutrition Survey revealed significant improvements in the prevalence of anemia across all age groups except among pregnant women. Among the possible reasons for this is the fortification of food products in the market particularly iron-fortified flour and bread products, and iron-fortified rice which is distributed by the National Food Corporation under the food for school program of the Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

All consumers are urged to look for the fortified food products whenever they buy food especially for the children. (PIA

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