The Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology, recently conducted the Forum on Rice Fortification on 20 February 2014 at the Pinnacle Hotel, Davao City. Among those who participated were rice millers of region XI, manufacturers of fortificant and fortified foods, food establishments, NFA and NNC XI RNPC Maria Teresa L. Ungson. FNRI team was led by Dr. Imelda Agdeppa. The purpose of the forum was to inform stakeholders and possible partners on the new technology on the manufacturing of Iron Premix Rice (IPR). The presentations focused on the Guidelines and Policies on Food Fortification Program, Scaling-Up Rice Fortification Program through Techno Transfer and the Technology on Rice Fortification.
The Food and Nutrition Research Institute is the research arm of the government in food, nutrition and other science and technology activities. The Institute is currently conducting a series of studies in fortifying rice guided by the concept on the processes of scaling-up in response to R.A. 8976 otherwise known as the Food Fortification Law.
The high prevalence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) has prompted the FNRI to develop an iron premix rice (IPR) using hot extrusion technology. A stability and storage study showed that the color, moisture content, iron content and microbial content were stable over a 12-month period. An efficacy study using a randomized-placebo-controlled doubly-masked trial among school children for 120 days showed a decrease in anemia rate from 100% to 33%. The fortification of rice shall be downloaded to the private mills to make IFR available, affordable and accessible for consumption of all Filipinos to achieve food and nutrition security for higher productivity.
Last year, FNRI conducted a feeding activity utilizing IFR among anemic schoolchildren ages 6-9 years old in Maco Heights Central Elementary School in Compostela Valley which started last 29 July 2013 and vended last 14 December 2013. Another upcoming component of the study is the conduct of nutrition education among parents of the subject children by the teachers.
