From Junk Food to fortified food

CEBU, Philippines - Responding to the malaise of hidden hunger, government launched a vitamin A supplementation program together with food fortification.

For more than a decade, the Food Fortification Act of 2000 also known as Republic Act 8976 was entered into force requiring the addition of nutrients to processed foods or food products at levels above the natural state to control micronutrient deficiency in vitamin A, iron and iodine. The fortification program made it mandatory to add micronutrients to food that is widely consumed. Specifically, the program made it mandatory to add iron micronutrients in rice, vitamin A and iron in wheat flour, vitamin A in refined sugar, and vitamin A in cooking oil. These food items were chosen because salt, edible oil, rice, flour and sugar are items most commonly consumed and thus would accelerate elimination of micronutrient deficiencies if these are fortified.

For food items not included among the staple food where inclusion of micronutrients was mandatory, the National Nutrition Council required other processed foods or food products to be fortified based on findings of nutrition surveys. In what it calls the Sangkap Pinoy Seal Program, food manufacturers are encouraged to fortify their products with any one or a combination of Vitamin A, Iron and iodine. After complying with required nutrition levels, these food manufacturers can apply for a Sangkap Pinoy Seal on their packaging materials. Among the snack food that have Sangkap Pinoy Seals or fortified food awardees are Granny Goose Tortillos that are fortified with Vitamin A, Iron and Iodine, Clover Chips fortified with Vitamin A. What used to be labeled as “junk food” are now fortified food after vitamin A, iron and iodine were incorporated in its manufacture.

  More than a decade after the Food Fortification Law was implemented, there continues to be a prevalence of vitamin A, iron and iodine deficiency among infants and children. In Cebu for instance, while there was 84 percent implementation of Vitamin A supplementation, much needs to be done who among those administered with vitamin A have actually improved in micronutrient nutrition. (FREEMAN)