Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Iron-rich rice to be distributed to region’s malnourished kids
With statistics showing that three out of 10 children are malnourished, the National Food Authority (NFA) 7 is intensifying this month the distribution of iron-fortified rice in Central Visayas.
NFA 7 Director Flo Pascual said the agency partially carried out the fortification of rice last year.
“This year, we will aggressively implement the program,” he said.
Republic Act 8976, the Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000, was enacted to address the problems on nutritional deficiency in the country.
Based on nutrition surveys, the Filipino diet is deficient in iron, vitamin A, iodine, thiamin, riboflavin, ascorbic acid, calcium and folate.
Staple food
The law mandates that all staple food should be fortified with nutrients based on standards set by the Department of Health through the Bureau of Food and Drug (Bfad).
The government’s campaign on food fortification started with the salt iodization program.
Pascual said NFA 7 will be releasing 300,000 bags of fortified rice in Region 7 this year. This will be sold in the markets at P18 per kilo.
Iron-fortified rice is brownish. But Pascual assured the public it tastes and smells just like regular rice. (CYR)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 15, 2006 issue)
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