10/11/2025
π₯π π΄π΅π³π²: ππΌπΏππΆπ³ππΆπ»π΄ ππΌπΊπΊππ»πΆππΆπ²π π§π΅πΏπΌππ΄π΅ ππΌπΌπ±
by CMU BSND OJT Jay Rafael Alabata
Millions of Filipinos experience hidden hungerβ not the typical hunger that is about empty stomachs but it is about the body hungry for essential nutrients that are needed for energy, growth, and regulation of bodily processes.
Republic Act 8976 or the Food Fortification Law was passed to fight hidden hunger and malnutrition in the country. The law mandates fortifying staple foods with vitamins and minerals and promotes voluntary food fortification of processed foods and food products. The four staple food products under mandatory food fortification are: rice to be fortified with iron, wheat flour to be fortified with vitamin A and iron, refined sugar to be fortified with vitamin A, and cooking oil to be fortified with vitamin A (FDA, 2021).
But where did it begin? During the early 1990s, three worldwide conferences were conducted that continuously urged the elimination of micronutrient deficiency, and in response to this global appeal, the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition 1993 - 1998 included food fortification as one of its impact projects. This initiative drove the promotion of food fortification in the Philippines through policies, technological innovations, research, initiatives such as the Sangkap Pinoy Seal Program (SPSP), and the implementation of RA 8976 (Solon, 2000).
All of these efforts resulted in a significant decrease in the country's micronutrient deficiency rates. Between 2003 and 2018-2019, the National Nutrition Survey found that anemia rates for children aged 6-59 months old children declined dramatically, from 32.4% to 13.4%. The prevalence of vitamin A Deficiency in children aged 6 months to 5 years fell from 40.1% to 15.5% (DOST-FNRI, 2022).
However, after 25 years since its implementation, RA 8976 still faces challenges that hinders it to achieve its full effectiveness. One of its challenges is lack of awareness that people still rely on unfortified goods. Also, the increase in imported products in the local market competes with the local fortified foods and most of these imported products are not fortified and or do not use fortified ingredients.
This is when the Sangkap Pinoy Seal Program comes into play. Sangkap Pinoy Seal Program is a strategy mandated by the Department of Health to promote food fortification and nutrition. Staple food products and food products that are fortified and meet the suggested amounts of micronutrients have these seal in its packaging. This could be an instrument for regular consumers to easily identify fortified foods in the market (Aquino et al., 2014).
The food fortification law is not a law that is intended to benefit a single individual in the community but it is for all the Filipinos, whether with hidden hunger or not. With this the promotion of RA 8976 is not the role of the health sector only but it needs multisectoral efforts to create a stronger connection to the consumers. Many key agencies such as the DOH, Food and Drug Administration, National Nutrition Council, Department of Trade and Industry, and Department of Science and Technology make sure that Filipinos will have access to fortified food products.
As we celebrate the Food Fortification Day, let us all be advocates to good nutrition through the promotion and consumption of fortified foods. (CMU BSND OJT Jay Rafael A. Alabata /nnc_x@yahoo.com/ 09631090198)
References:
Aquino, A., Correa, A. B., & Ani, P. A. (2014, December 15). Republic Act No. 8976: Establishing the Philippine Food Fortification Program. FFTC Agricultural Policy Platform (FFTC-AP). https://ap.fftc.org.tw/article/795
Department of Science and Technology - Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI). 2022. Philippine Nutrition Facts and Figures: 2018-2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS). FNRI Bldg., DOST Compound, Gen. Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology (2008). National Nutrition Survey 2008. Taguig City, Philippines: Food and Nutrition Research Institute.
Food and Drugs Administration. (2021). OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY THE IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8976 ENTITLED: βAN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE FOOD FORTIFICATION PROGRAM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.βhttps://www.fda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Republic-Act-No.-8976_IRR.pdf
National Nutrition Council Cordillera Administrative Region (n.d.). Mandatory Food Fortification: A Nutrition Specific Program to Address Hidden Hunger | National Nutrition Council (NNC), Republic of the Philippines. National Nutrition Council (NNC), Republic of the Philippines. https://nnc.gov.ph/luzon-region/mandatory-food-fortification-a-nutrition-specific-program-to-address-hidden-hunger/
Solon, F. S. (2000). Food Fortification in the Philippines: Policies, Programmes, Issues, and Prospects. Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 21(4), 515β520. https://doi.org/10.1177/156482650002100433
