Food Chamber joins DOH-Philhealth fun run

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Chamber of Food Manufacturers joined the recent Philhealth-DOH Fun Run, a nationwide run conducted simultaneously in 18 cities across the country by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and the Department of Health.

The fun run served as a venue for the soft launch of the front of pack (FOP) calorie labeling, a scientific, fact-based system for nutrition labeling and dietary guidance, with a product’s calorie amount clearly placed at the front of the packaging.  The issuance of FDA Circular 2012-015 on FOP calorie paved the way for the industry to join the “Healthy Lifestyle Advocacy” of the Department of Health; one of the many programs that the Food Chamber appreciates in the leadership of Health Secretary Enrique Ona, on top of DOH-FDA’s objective of “finding the balance between innovations and sound regulations.”

Food Chamber president Edith de Leon reaffirmed Food Chamber’s commitment to implement programs on consumer awareness, nutrition labeling, and leading an active healthy lifestyle together with government, consumers, and other industry stakeholders.

“Food Chamber actively supports the implementation of fact-based FOP labeling to guide the consumers in making informed food choices through a simple, clear and comprehensive approach,” De Leon added.