“Vitamin and mineral deficiency is the source of the most massive ‘hidden hunger’ and malnutrition in the world today. The ‘hidden hunger’ due to micronutrient deficiency does not produce hunger as we know it. You might not feel it in the belly, but it strikes at the core of your health and vitality. It remains widespread, posing devastating threats to health, education, economic growth and to human dignity in developing countries.” Kul C. Gautam, former Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF.
Recognizing the increasing number of people with micronutrient deficiency, the government has created policies on food fortification. Fortification is defined as the addition of nutrients to processed foods or food products at levels above the natural state. As an approach to control micronutrient deficiency, food fortification is defined in the law as addition of a micronutrient, deficient in the diet, to a food which is widely consumed by specific at-risk groups.
RA 8172 “An Act Promoting Salt Iodization Nationwide (ASIN)” was signed into law on Dec. 20, 1995 with the purpose of eliminating micronutrient malnutrition in the country, particularly iodine deficiency disorders, through salt iodization. It is a cost-effective and preventive measure that requires all manufacturers of salt to iodize the salt they produce, manufacture, import, trade or distribute. With the impact of salt iodization, the ASIN law was supplemented by RA 8976 “The Philippine Food Fortification Act” on Nov. 7, 2000. This law mandated the mandatory fortification of staple foods and voluntary fortification of processed foods. Based on the standards set by the Department of Health through the Bureau of Food and Drugs, staple foods under mandatory food fortification are:
1. Rice – with iron
2. Wheat flour – with vitamin A and Iron
3. Refined sugar – with vitamin A
4. Cooking oil – with vitamin A
These staples were chosen because these are regularly consumed by the population especially those at risk to micronutrient deficiencies regardless of socio-economic status.
The Sangkap Pinoy Seal Program (SPSP) is a strategy to encourage food manufacturers to fortify processed foods or food products with essential nutrients at levels approved by the DOH. The DOH seal of acceptance is used by manufacturers after their products have passed a set of criteria for food fortification. This seal serves as a guide for consumers in selecting nutritious foods.
a. Sangkap Pinoy Seal is granted to manufacturers who fortify their processed food products with iron, vitamin A, and iodine.
b. Saktong Iodine sa Asin Quality Seal can be seen on salt products with the right amount of iodine.
c. Diamond Sangkap Pinoy Seal is for staples covered by mandatory food fortification
The micronutrients in fortified foods are essential for good health, growth, development, and immunity against infections. We should always be mindful of our food choices. Eat nutritious foods with Sangkap Pinoy Seal to avoid micronutrient deficiencies. (DKFV/NPC MEVF/NNC-NCR)
References:
- https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/micronutrient-malnutrition/micronutrients/index.html
- https://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/ida/en/
- https://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/WHO_FAO_ICN2_videos_hiddenhunger/en/#:~:text=Hidden%20hunger%20is%20a%20lack,for%20their%20growth%20and%20development.
- https://www.doh.gov.ph/food-fortification-program
- https://ww2.fda.gov.ph/attachments/article/29049/RA%208976%20-%20Food%20Fortification%20Law_revised.pdf
- https://ap.fftc.org.tw/article/795
- https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1995/12/20/republic-act-no-8172/
- https://www.unicef.org/survival_development_12473.htm#:~:text=The%20lack%20of%20vitamins%20and,malnutrition%20in%20the%20world%20today.&text=Hidden%20hunger%20prevents%20children%20from,physical%2C%20intellectual%20and%20social%20potential.
