Saturday, November 05, 2005
Filipinos eating more nutritious food
By Jujemay G. Awit
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
Filipinos are eating more nutritious food in recent years, except those rich in iron and vitamin C.
According to the sixth national nutritional survey, there has been a significant increase in the consumption of meat and cereal products from 1993 to 2003.
The average one-day consumption of cereal products in every household reflected in the 2003 nutritional survey increased to 364 grams compared with 340 grams in 1993.
The nutritional survey covered 97 percent of the targeted 786 areas in the country and 92 percent of the targeted 3,044 households.
Cereal products cover 41 percent of the average one-day food intake of a Filipino household, the most in a Filipino’s daily diet.
The amount of meat products consumed by an average family also almost doubled in the 10 years covered by the survey, from 34 grams to 61 grams in 2003.
In one day, 9.2 percent of a family’s food consists of meat.
More fish products, poultry, and vegetables were also eaten in 2003 compared with figures in the 1993 nutritional survey.
Fish is still preferred over meat, making up 11.7 percent of the daily diet. However, fish consumption has gone down, from 113 grams in 1982 and 111 grams in 1987 to 99 grams in the recent survey.
Consumption of chicken and other poultry products also increased from 14 grams in 1993 and 20 grams in 2003.
Vegetables, on the other hand, were put aside as consumption decreased in surveys covering 1978-1993. It was only in 2003 that average consumption increased to 110 grams, from 106 grams in 1993.
The 1978 survey showed Filipino households eating 145 grams of vegetables daily.
Fruit consumption also dropped to 54 grams in 2003 from 77 grams in 1993.
Children six months to five years old, though, were also found to be eating more fruits and vegetables in recent years.
Less milk
Of those surveyed, 59 percent eat vegetables, 31 percent eat fruits, mostly bananas.
The survey results did not mention how many children were surveyed.
Milk consumption, on the other hand, dropped as children grow older.
The recently released survey of the Food and Research Institute of the Department of Science and technology (DOST) also showed that while there was a general improvement in the “dietary quality and quantity” of food consumption in Filipino households, iron and vitamin C intake was not enough.
Iron can be found in dried fruits, eggs, enriched bread/cereal, vegetables, liver and meat.
Home-cooked
DOST recommends that eating home-cooked meals should be encouraged and that the government should strictly enforce the implementation of the Food Fortification Law.
The country celebrates Food Fortification Day on Monday.
Republic Act 8976 or the Food Fortification Act of 2000 mandates the fortification of cooking oil with vitamin A, wheat flour with vitamin A and iron, refined sugar with vitamin A and rice with iron.
This law complements RA 8172 or the Asin Law (An Act Promoting Salt Iodization Nationwide) passed in December 1995.
The Asin Law mandates the iodization of all salt sold in the country.
The government aims to reduce iron deficiency anemia (IDA) among children and women of reproductive age through this law.
Products that pass the fortification program can display the Diamond Sangkap Pinoy Seal on their packaging materials.
(November 5, 2005 issue)
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