In support to the National Food Fortification Day which is annually celebrated every November 7, the National Nutrition Council – Calabarzon together with the Regional Bantay Asin Task Force (RBATF) have pledged to intensify the promotion of “Sangkap Pinoy Seal Program” and salt iodization to reduce and totally eliminate cases of micronutrient deficiencies in the region.
The Sangkap Pinoy Seal Program is one of the strategies of the government to encourage manufacturers to fortify processed food and food products with essential micronutrient levels approved by the Department of Health (DOH).
The fundamental concept of the strategy is to authorize food manufacturers to use the DOH seal of acceptance for processed foods or food products, after these products pass a set of defined criteria analyzed by DFA. The seal also serves as guideline used by consumers in selecting nutritious food.
Republic Act No. 8976, known as “Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000” provides the policy on mandatory fortification of staple foods, and voluntary fortification of processed foods or food products. The fortification consists of the following: Rice – with iron; Flour – with vitamin A and iron; Sugar- with vitamin A; Oil – with Vitamin A; and Salt – with iodine.
Food Fortification is the process of adding essential micronutrient to food for the purpose of preventing and correcting micronutrient deficiency among individual. Micronutrient deficiency is also referred to as “Hidden Hunger” because its consequences are not immediately seen.
Ms. Diane Z. Ulan, RBATF member and representative of DOST, further extended her support in promoting salt sample testing through the provision of reagents (specifically “Solution A and B”). Currently, the samples have been collected and will be tested in 17 municipalities; in one city in the Province of Quezon; and in five municipalities and one city in Province of Rizal.
Republic Act No. 8172 also known as an “Act of Salt Iodization Nationwide (ASIN) Law” requires salt manufacturers to iodize the salt they produce, manufacture, import, trade or distribute, and ensure that all salt available in the market are iodized, and promote food fortification to food.
NNC Calabarzon recently released the results of salt testing from the Province of Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas during the 1st RBATF Virtual Meeting. Earlier, Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator, Carina Santiago, gave the directive to test salt samples from the Province of Quezon and Rizal to give way for the action plan of RBATF for 2021.
National Nutrition Council, the highest policy-making and coordinating body in nutrition, serves as the advisory board on food fortification and salt iodization. Amidst the current situation, the pandemic and challenging times — the NNC Calabarzon Region continuously provides its untiring commitment to serve its constituents.
By: Darrenz William M. Mateos