Quezon City – As part of raising awareness on the National Food Fortification Day on 7 November 2020, NPC Eileen B. Blanco served as resource speaker on radio shows such as DWLC Radyo Pilipinas Lucena and Radyo Natin San Jose held on 5 and 6 November 2020, respectively to give updates on the country’s efforts in combatting micronutrient deficiency through food fortification.
NPC Blanco discussed the importance of food fortification in addressing micronutrient deficiencies such as Vitamin A Deficiency Disorder (VADD), Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) and Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) as well as existing policies to address micronutrient deficiency such as Republic Act 8172 or “An Act Establishing the Philippine Food Fortification Program” and Republic Act 8976 or “An Act Establishing the Philippine Food Fortification Program”. Moreover, NPC Blanco also reported NNC’s efforts in ensuring Occidental Mindoro, being one of the largest salt producers in the country complies to the National Salt Iodization Program through monitoring with the Regional Bantay Asin Task Force (RBATF).
Aside from government’s efforts, NPC Blanco urged the listeners such as consumers to choose foods with Sangkap Pinoy Seal for these are food products verified by the Department of Health (DOH) as fortified food. She also encouraged the suppliers such as bakery owners of food establishment to use fortified flour, rice, and iodized salt to ensure that their products are fortified as well.
National Food Fortification Day is celebrated every 7 November by virtue of Executive Order (EO) No. 382. DOH serving as the lead agency is tasked on the formulation and dissemination of guidelines and procedures on the implementation of the EO. DOH is also tasked to provide technical assistance to LGUs; conduct national and regional advocacy and social mobilization activities; provide the necessary logistics and promotional materials; and monitor all the activities at the local levels.
Also, Republic Act 8172 or “An Act Promoting Salt Iodization Nationwide” was passed on 20 December 1995 with a purpose of elimination of the micronutrient malnutrition in the country, particularly iodine deficiency disorders, through cost-effective preventive measure of salt iodization through mandatory implementation to salt manufacturers and distributor.
Republic Act 8976 or “An Act Establishing the Philippine Food Fortification Program” was a law passed on 24 July 2000 with a purpose of mandatory fortification of staple foods such as rice with iron, wheat floor with vitamin and iron, refined sugar with vitamin A and Cooking oil with vitamin A and voluntary fortification of processed foods based on acceptable standards on food fortification set by the DOH through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (FEPBacena)
