Nutribun was originally designed as a convenient “ready-to-eat complete meal” for public elementary school feeding programs to combat child malnutrition in the Philippines. Nutrition-wise, the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI), a partner of the National Nutrition Council, enhanced the nutribun. 

They started reformulating the nutribun from the original formulation of squash bread, which the Institute developed way back in 2003. It was not copied from any foreign formulation. It was developed by Filipinos for Filipino consumers. The Enhanced Nutribun has more micronutrients like iron and vitamin A. The texture is softer and weighs 160- 165 grams per piece, which makes it easier to hold and bite. Each serving has 504 calories, 17.8 grams of protein, 6.08 milligrams of iron, and 244 micrograms of vitamin A. The enhanced nutribun is made from squash that is rich in vitamin A. One serving of enhanced nutribun already provides 60% of the requirements for vitamin A. The enhanced version answers the need for micronutrients, energy, and protein requirements.

It was not only reformulated for the consumption of the children. It can also be consumed by healthy Pinoys and other population groups, particularly, pregnant and lactating women, and our senior citizens. Hence it is part of the food commodities that are distributed to the nutritionally -at-risk pregnant women as part of the TutokKainan Supplementation Program - a COVID-19 response. The program aims to serve as a platform for improving women’s nutrition through the provision of additional quality and nutritious food commodities, including nutribun, to pregnant women in priority areas across the country.

The COVID-19 pandemic will likely impact nutrition in several ways. Varying levels of community quarantine will disrupt the livelihood and employment of people and limit their access to safe and nutritious foods. Already, there has been a record increase in reported hunger incidence at 16.7% in May 2020 which is double that the 8.8% reported in December 2019. The health system is focused on responding to a health emergency and will affect the delivery of nutrition and related services. Food systems are likely to be disrupted, reducing access of people to food. While there are social protection programs, the delivery may be slowed or hampered. Thus, it is important that during the emergency, nutrition must be protected and ensured. With increasing food insecurity and reduced access to services, the existing malnutrition problem may worsen.

Nutribun is a convenient product for distribution during an emergency, considering that a liquid product is more difficult to distribute than a solid. According to DOST-FNRI, based on the 2018 Expanded National Nutrition Survey, bread or pandesal is the top five food sources of the total energy intake. A most commonly consumed commodity should be used in developing any product to address the nutritional problem. It also uses a local vegetable as one of the main ingredients, of which there are plenty in the Philippines. It would help the farmers to cope up with the economic effects brought about by the pandemic.

Nutribun is essential, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic. Thus the distribution to the nutritionally at-risk pregnant women should not be slowed or hampered, as it is an additional quality and nutritious food to address nutritional problems.

References:

Demombynes, Gabriel. PowerPoint Presentation “Achieving Zero Hunger and Healthy Growth for All Filipinos: A Preview of Main Findings”. Presented during the NNC Information Sharing Session on 16 June 2020.

Department of Science and Technology.Enhanced-nutribun: good for both undernourished and healthy pinoys. Posted 31 October  2020.accessed from

https://www.dost.gov.ph/knowledge-resources/news/67-2020-news/2025-enhanced-nutribun-good-for-both-undernourished-and-healthy-pinoys.html

https://www.who.int/elena/titles/vitamina_pregnancy/en/

Food and Nutrition Research Institute. 2018 National Nutrition Survey.

Food and Nutrition Research Institute. The 6th National Nutrition Surveys: Initial Results.

Social Weather Stations. Covid-19 Mobile Phone Survey Report No. 2: Hunger among families doubles to 16.7%. Press release posted 21 May 2020. Accessed from http://www.sws.org.ph/swsmain/generalArtclSrchPage/?page=1&srchprm=&arttyp=6& stdtrng=&endtrng=&swityp=.