Pangasinan markets to sell iron-fortified rice

Saturday, April 16, 2011

DAGUPAN CITY - The iron-fortified rice (I-Rice) will be available at the public markets in Pangasinan next week, said National Food Authority (NFA) provincial manager Engineer Ramon B. Cuaresma.

This new product, produced under the National Government's food fortification program, was launched in this city last March 15 to eliminate micronutrients deficiency in the province.

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"It is the addition of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) deficient in the diet, to a food which is widely consumed by specific at-risk groups such as school children, pregnant women and lactating mothers," said Cuaresma.

He said iron is one of the most important trace elements essential for many proteins and enzymes that keep the body in good shape. Deficiency in iron can lead to anemia. It usually begins with negative iron balance when dietary iron intake does not meet the daily need for iron and develops gradually.

The rice fortification is being done by the local NFA. I-Rice is a mixture of while-milled rice and iron rice premix. It will be available at all NFA-accredited rice outlets at public markets and will be sold at a very minimal price.

NFA Regional Director Danilo Pastrana, meanwhile, announced that they will start buying upland rice varieties to help indigenous groups planting rice sell their product at a good price.

"The move is also being considered to help in the rice production and make the country self-sufficient by year 2013. It will also give the buying public wider choice of rice varieties," Pastrana said.