Rice & Rice Mate: A match made in food heaven

Rice is a staple we can’t live without. I can’t imagine the Filipino diet devoid of rice. Or a fiesta with so much good food but without rice.

Fact is, Dr. Imelda Agdeppa of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) notes that Filipinos measure their food security in terms of their capacity to buy and serve rice to their families.

However, to stretch our shrinking peso, families have to settle for low-grade rice. And this kind of rice is usually characterized by inconsistent texture, color, and taste.

But now comes this revolutionary product from Unilever that promises to improve the rice that we eat day after day: Knorr Rice Mate. Made with Thai jasmine rice flour and pandan extract, this proven rice enhancer, when cooked with rice, makes it softer and whiter, exuding the aroma of freshly harvested rice. Hmmm! Surely, the aroma of pandan is enough to send us dashing to the dining table even if it’s not yet mealtime.

But Rice Mate is more than an affordable solution to low-grade rice that makes it look, feel, and taste good. It also boosts the nutritional value of low-grade rice as it is fortified with vitamin A and iodine, which are part of our daily nutritional needs. FYI: Vitamin A helps strengthen the immune system and maintain good vision while iodine helps in the development of the brain and central nervous system.

Knorr partners with the Food Nutrition Research Institute to bring healthier rice to Filipinos. According to research conducted by FNRI, the average Filipino diet is deficient in various nutrients, such as vitamin A, iron, calcium, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and ascorbic acid. Low dietary intake of essential vitamins and minerals in the body leads to micronutrient deficiency and, in severe cases, malnutrition.

The Food Fortification Law of the Philippines, passed in 2000, covers the mandatory fortification of rice and other staples like flour, oil, and sugar with vitamin A and iron.

“Food fortification is the addition of nutrients to commonly consumed foods either to replace the lost nutrients during processing or to enhance the amount of nutrients found in the food,” explains Agdeppa.

FNRI has launched its iron-fortified rice technology, which has helped in preventing anemia, caused by lack of iron in the body. “Significant reductions in anemia were observed in both the pilot and large-scale studies among schoolchildren,” says Agdeppa.

So, how did they like their rice after it was cooked with Rice Mate?

During a convention of nutrition experts, 94 percent of the respondents said they prefer their rice with Knorr Rice Mate over just plain rice.

The survey also says that 96 percent of the respondents believe that Knorr Rice Mate can improve the general acceptability of rice, while 97 percent like the fact that it does not contain the dreaded monosodium glutamate or MSG.

Yes, for only P2.50 per 5g sachet, this first-ever rice improver mix offers a cheap solution to our rice-eating woes.

Budget-conscious (who isn’t in this day and age?) moms believe they have found the right mate in Knorr Rice Mate because now, they can serve their families great-tasting rice while spending within their means.

Moms like Sweet Navero swear their kids now eat more rice, thanks to Knorr Rice Mate. “My kids are picky and complain about the texture of our rice so they used to just finish their food,” she shares. “But with the help of Knorr Rice Mate, my kids now enjoy every spoonful of soft, white rice. More than the enhanced texture, the freshly harvested smell does the trick to increase my kids’ appetite.”

Rice and Rice Mate? It’s a perfect match!

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Knorr Rice Mate is now available in leading supermarkets, groceries, and convenience stores nationwide.

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