Micronutrients or commonly referred to as vitamins and minerals are important to healthy development, disease prevention, and well-being. Apart from vitamin D, micronutrients aren’t produced within the body and must be derived or get from the diet. This is the hugest source of “hidden hunger” and malnutrition in the Philippines and in the world today. Hidden hunger is a form of undernutrition that occurs when the quality of food that people eat does not meet their nutrient requirements, thus they are not getting the essential vitamins and minerals that they need to sustain good health and development. Factors that contribute to micronutrient deficiencies include a poor diet, increased micronutrient needs during certain life stages, such as pregnancy and lactation, and health problems such as diseases, infections, or parasites. While clinical signs of hidden hunger are night blindness due to vitamin A deficiency and goiter from inadequate iodine intake etc.

More than 2 billion individuals or one in three people are afflicted by micronutrient deficiency globally according to FAO 2013. In the Philippines, to address this problem the creation of “Asin Law” and “Food Fortification Law” was established. And adapted the main strategy of fortification of commonly consumed foods to increase the micronutrient intake of the population, particularly of the at-risk groups of women and children. In support of all these laws, Administrative Order No. 4-A s. 1995 was issued by the Department of Health to establish guidelines on the micronutrient fortification of processed foods. In connection with this, Sangkap Pinoy Seal Program was recognized. 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 Department of Health. The fundamental concept of the program is to authorize food manufacturers to use the Department of Heal seal of acceptance for processed foods or food products after these products passed a set of defined criteria.

The seal is a guide used by consumers in selecting nutritious foods (Section 3m).

• Pinoy Sangkap Seal – for fortified processed foods with the additional right amount of vitamin A, iron, or iodine.
• Saktong Iodine sa Asin Seal – for fortified salt products with the additional right amount of iodine.
• Diamond Sangkap Pinoy Seal - for fortified staples foods covered by mandatory food fortification which includes rice, sugar, cooking oil, or flour with the additional right amount of Vitamin A or iron.

Sangkap Pinoy Seal has three colors representing the various micronutrients added to food products. Yellow for food products fortified with Vitamin A, Green for food products fortified with iron, and Red for food products fortified with iodine. They are the new colors of health that consumers will find in food products with the SPS. This will help reduce the high prevalence of micronutrient deficiency in the Philippines.

The next time you buy processed foods or food products, look for these colorful characters with the SP Seal to help you choose which products are more beneficial for you. Be mindful in choosing the right food for your health.

ZS DMO IIKarla P. Calapardo, RND

References:

• https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/micronutrient-malnutrition/micronutrients/index.html
• https://www.globalhungerindex.org/issues-in-focus/2014.html
• https://www.pntr.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/RA-8976.pdf
• https://www.fda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Administrative-Order-No.-82-s.-2003.pdf
• https://www.fda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Administrative-Order-No.-4-A-s.-1995.pdf