Executive Order 382 declares November 7 as the National Food Fortification Day. The term “Fortification” as defined by Codex Alimentarius, it is the addition of one or more essential nutrients to food, whether or not it is normally contained in the food, for the purpose of preventing or correcting a demonstrated deficiency of one or more nutrients in the population or specific population groups. Henceforth, Republic Act No. 8976 declares that the State shall protect and promote the right of health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. State recognizes that nutritional deficiency problems in the Philippines, based on nutrition surveys, include deficiency in energy, iron, vitamin A, iodine, thiamin and riboflavin. To a minor extent, the Filipino diet is also deficient in ascorbic acid, calcium and folate.

The State recognizes that food fortification is vital where there is a demonstrated need to increase the intake of an essential nutrient by one or more population groups, as manifested in dietary, biochemical or clinical evidences of deficiency. Food fortification is considered important in the promotion of optimal health and to compensate for the loss of nutrients due to processing and/or storage of food. Food fortification, therefore, shall be carried out to compensate for the inadequacies in Filipino diet, based on present-day needs as measured using the most recent Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA).

As stated in RA 8976 section 4, the Philippine Food Fortification Program, hereinafter referred to as the Program, shall cover all imported or locally processed foods or food products for sale or distribution in the Philippines: Provided, That, dietary supplements for which established standards have already been prescribed by the DOH through the BFAD and which standards include specifications for nutrient composition or levels of fortification shall not be covered by this Act. Also, the Program shall consist of (1) Voluntary Food Fortification and (2) Mandatory Food Fortification.

Voluntary Food Fortification. – Under the Sangkap Pinoy Seal Program (SPSP), the Department shall encourage the fortification of all processed foods or food products based on rules and regulations which the DOH through the BFAD shall issue after the effectivity of this Act. Manufacturers who opt to fortify their processed foods or food products but do not apply for Sangkap Pinoy Seal shall fortify their processed foods or food products based on acceptable standards on food fortification set by the DOH through the BFAD.

Mandatory Food Fortification. – (a) The fortification of staple foods based on standards set by the DOH through the BFAD is hereby made mandatory for the following: (1) Rice - with Iron; (2) Wheat flour - with vitamin A and Iron; (3) Refined sugar - with vitamin A; (4) Cooking oil- with vitamin A; and (5) Other staple foods with nutrients as may later be required by the NNC.

As stated above, Food Fortification Law plays a vital role in food production in the Philippines. It promotes and produce food products that are fortified in order to decrease the prevalence rate of micronutrient deficiency among the Filipinos. Also, upon providing a SPS logo for a food product, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) shall require other processed foods or food products to be fortified based on findings of nutrition surveys. Such requirement shall be promulgated through regulations to be issued by the Department of Health (DOH) through the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) and other concerned agencies. Moreover, understanding existing laws regarding food would enable us to make informed food decisions to lead a healthier diet.

//Krysselle M. Lucero, CMU On-the Job Trainee

References:

Department of Health. (n.d.). Retrieved from Food Fortification Program: https://doh.gov.ph/food-fortification-program#:~:text=Fortification%20as%20defined%20by%20Codex,population%20or%20specific%20population%20groups%E2%80%9D

Department of Health. (n.d.). Retrieved from Reoublic Act No. 8976: https://doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/policies_and_laws/RA08976.pdf