NOVEMBER 7 is celebrated as National Food Fortification Day pursuant to Republic Act 8976 or the Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000.

In line with this, the Department of Health (DOH) is continuously advocating a healthy diet rich in Vitamin A, Iron and iodine micronutrients even as it advises the public to look for the DOH “Sangkap Pinoy Seals,” when buying cooking oil, flour, rice, sugar, salts and processed food products, such as sardines, ketchup, juice, hotdog, noodles, margarine, cheese spread, bread and infant cereals.

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DOH Regional Nutritionist Imee Aboy explained food fortification is the addition of one or more essential nutrients to food for the purpose of preventing or correcting a demonstrated deficiency with one or more nutrients.

According to Aboy, the DOH Food fortification program aims to provide every Filipino fortified food, by at least 50 percent of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), to help improve their quality of life and prevent malnutrition or micro-nutrients malnutrition Aboy explained Vitamin A, Iron and Iodine are the three most important micronutrients provided by the food we eat and required by the body (in small quantities) for it to function normally. Lack of it could result to Vitamin A Deficiency Disorder (VADD), Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) and Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD), which could also lead to other more illnesses, diseases or infections.

Even some junk foods now are fortified and bear “Sangkap pinoy Seals”, according to Aboy. “There are about 100 kinds, enriched with vitamin A, Iron and Iodine and this could even increase as there are more voluntary applicants for the said seal,” she added.

DOH Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) Food and Drugs Regulation Officer (FDRO) II Lily Ann Aglubat said they are continuously monitoring and checking the viability of the micro-nutrient fortification of the “Sangkap Pinoy” products, as FDROs nationwide are conducting validation and post marketing surveillance.

Aglubat pointed out that there are two types of Sangkap Pinoy seals, the triangle seal can be seen on the mandatory product lists, and a rectangular seal for the voluntary fortified products. Consumers can also check the list of “Sangkap Pinoy” fortified products at the DOH and BFAD website at www.doh.gov.ph and www.bfad.gov.ph, respectively.

“Consumers can also submit samples to the BFAR, if they have doubts in some products, for laboratory testing,” Aglubat added.

Aboy reiterated that spending an additional few centavos in buying “Sangkap Pinoy,” products, is a very minimal cost in buying more healthy foods and in preventing malnutrition problem for the Filipino family. (Lito Dar)