FOOD FORTIFICATION PROGRAM

THE PHILIPPINE FOOD FORTIFICATION ACT OF 2000

Republic Act No. 8976
An Act Establishing The Philippine Food Fortification Program And For Other Purposes
The state recognizes that food fortification is vital where there is a demonstrated need to
increase the intake of an essential nutrient by one or more population groups, as manifested in
dietary, biochemical or clinical evidences of deficiency. Food fortification is considered
important in the promotion of optimal health and to compensate for the loss of nutrients due to
processing and/or storage of food. Food fortification, therefore, shall be carried out to
compensate for the inadequacies in Filipino diet, based on present-day needs as measured using
the most recent Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA).

DEFINITION OF TERMS
Fortification
Addition of nutrients to processed foods or food products at levels above the natural state as an
approach to control micronutrient deficiency
Addition of a micronutrient, deficiency in the diet, to a food which is widely consumed by
specific at-risk groups

Processed food or food products
Food that has been subjected to some degree of processing

Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA)
Levels of nutrient intakes which are considered adequate to maintain health and provide
reasonable levels or reserves in body tissues

Sangkap Pinoy Seal Program (SPSP)
A strategy to encourage food manufacturers to fortify processed foods or food products with
essential nutrients at levels approved by the DOH
Its fundamental concept is to authorize food manufacturers to use the DOH seal of acceptance
for processed foods or food products, after these products passed a set of defined criteria
The seal is a guide used by consumers in selecting nutritious foods

FORTIFICATION
LEVELS FOOD VEHICLE
FORTIFICANTS MINIMUM LEVEL OF FORTIFICATION
AT PRODUCTION
Flour
Iron
Vitamin A
45ppm
490 RE / 100 grams
Sugar Vitamin A 175 RE / 15 grams
Edible Oil Vitamin A 300 RE / 15 grams
Rice Iron 6 mg / 100 grams Raw Rice
Salt Iodine
70 ppm (bulk pack)
60 ppm (retail pack)
Condiments Iron Level will be in accordance with Food
Fortification Guidelines

KEY PROVISIONS OF THE FOOD FORTIFICATION LAW
Sec. 1 The Philippine Food Fortification Program shall cover all imported or locally processed
foods or food products for sale or distribution, for human consumption in the Philippines.
Sec. 2 The Philippine Food Fortification Program shall consist of two systems:
1. Voluntary food fortification to encourage food processors to undertake food
fortification on their own volition to enhance the nutrition content of their food
products
2. Mandatory food fortification for specific food products

FOOD FORTIFICATION PROGRAM
The nutritional deficiency problems in the Philippines, based on nutrition surveys, include
deficiency in energy, iron, vitamin A, iodine, thiamin and riboflavin.
Food fortification is considered important in the promotion of optimal health and to
compensate for the loss of nutrients due to processing and/or storage of food.
Food fortification program is carried out to compensate for the inadequacies in Filipino diet,
based on present-day needs as measured using the most recent Recommended Dietary
Allowances (RDA).
The program consists of: (1) Voluntary Food Fortification and (2) Mandatory Food Fortification.
A. Voluntary Food Fortification
Under the Sangkap Pinoy Seal Program (SPSP), the Department shall encourage the fortification
of all processed foods or food products based on rules and regulations which the DOH through
the BFAD shall issue after the effectivity of this act.
For voluntary fortification, food manufacturers may fortify their processed foods or food
products based on acceptable standards set by the DOH through the BFAD.
Products that have complied with the requirements are awarded the Sangkap Pinoy Seal similar
to the Diamond Seal for staples.
139 fortified processed food products with the Sangkap Pinoy Seal.
B. Mandatory Food Fortification
Fortification of staple foods based on standards set by the DOH through the BFAD is hereby
made mandatory for the following food groups:
o Rice - with Iron
o Wheat flour - with vitamin A and Iron
o Refined sugar - with vitamin A
o Cooking oil - with vitamin A
o Other staple foods with nutrients as may later be required by the NNC
Consumers will know that the staples they are buying are fortified when they see the Diamond
Seal stamped on the product
o 119 brands of food staples
o 44 oil products/brands
o 55 flour products/brands
o 9 rice products/brands
o 9 salt products/brands
o 2 sugar products/brands
Objectives:
1. To provide the basis for the need for a food fortification program in the Philippines: The
Micronutrient Malnutrition Problem
2. To discuss various types of food fortification strategies
3. To provide an update on the current situation of food fortification in the Philippines
Fortification as defined by Codex Alimentarius
the addition of one or more essential nutrients to food, whether or not it is normally contained
in the food, for the purpose of preventing or correcting a demonstrated deficiency of one or more
nutrients in the population or specific population groups

Vitamin A, Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) and its Consequences
Vitamin A - an essential nutrient as retinol needed by the body for normal sight, growth,
reproduction and immune competence
Vitamin A deficiency - a condition characterized by depleted liver stores & low blood levels of
vitamin A due to prolonged insufficient dietary intake of vit. A followed by poor absorption or
utilization of vit. A in the body
VAD affects childrens proper growth, resistance to infection, and chances of survival (23 to
35% increased child mortality), severe deficiency results to blindness, night blindness and bitots
spot

Prevalence of Vitamin A Deficiency:
1993, 1998, 2003, 2008
(DOST FNRI, NNS)
Physiological State 1993 1998 2003 2008
6 months - 5 yrs. 35.3 38.0 40.1 15.2
Pregnant 16.4 22.2 17.5 9.5
Lactating 16.4 16.5 20.1 6.4
WHO Cut off Point to be considered a public health problem = >15%

Iron and Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) and its consequences
Iron - an essential mineral and is part of hemoglobin, the red protein in red blood cells that
carries oxygen from the lungs to the cells
Iron Deficiency Anemia - condition where there is lack of iron in the body resulting to low
hemoglobin concentration of the blood
IDA results in premature delivery, increased maternal mortality, reduce ability to fight infection
and transmittable diseases and low productivity

Iodine and Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD)
Iodine - a mineral and a component of the thyroid hormones
Thyroid hormones - needed for the brain and nervous system to develop & function normally
Iodine Deficiency Disorders refers to a group of clinical entities caused by inadequacy of dietary
iodine for the thyroid hormone resulting into various condition e.g. goiter, cretinism, mental
retardation, loss of IQ points

Progress in the Philippines towards the Elimination of IDD, 1998-2008
Indicator Goal*
Achievements
1998 2003 2008
Proportion of Households using Iodized Salt, % >90 9.7 56.0 81.1
Median Urinary Iodine, ug/L
6-12 yrs. 100-200 71 201 132
Lactating Women 100-200 - 111 81
Pregnant Women 150-249 - 142 105
Proportion < 50g/L, % < 20
6-12 yrs. 35.8 11.4 19.7
Lactating Women - 23.7 34.0
Pregnant Women - 18.0 25.8
*ICC-IDD 2007

POLICY ON FOOD FORTIFICATION

ASIN LAW
Republic Act 8172, An Act Promoting Salt Iodization Nationwide and for other purposes,
signed into law on Dec. 20, 1995
Among the foods that are fortified is salt with iodine
Many studies show that salt iodization is the most cost-effective means to prevent and control
iodine deficiency disorders.
RA 8172 or the ASIN Law which was passed in 1995 mandates that all salt used for human and
animal consumption be iodized.
Food manufacturers and food processors shall make sure that the salt that they use is iodized.
Consumers should buy only salt that is iodized.

FOOD FORTIFICATION LAW
Republic Act 8976, An Act Establishing the Philippine Food Fortification Program and for other
purposes, signed into law on November 7, 2000
Mandates fortification of flour, oil and sugar with Vitamin A and flour and rice with iron by
November 7, 2004
Promotes voluntary fortification through the SPSP

STATUS OF THE PHILIPPINE FOOD FORTIFICATION PROGRAM

Status and Recommendations for the Sangkap Pinoy Seal Program
Status:
There are 139 processed food products with Sangkap PinoySeal with 83% with vitamin A, 29%
with iron and 14% with iodine (2008)
37% of the products are snack foods
Most of the products FDA analyzed are within the standard
Based on 2003 NNS Households awareness of SPS- and FF-products is 11% and 14%,
respectively, in 2008 awareness is 11.6%
Although awareness is low, usage of SPS-products is 99.2%
Recommendations:
Review voluntary fortification standards as standards were developed prior to mandatory
fortification
Conduct in-depth analysis of the coverage of Sangkap Pinoy Seal of the 2008 NNS
Update list of Sangkap Pinoy Seal products as some companies have stopped using the seal in
their products
Intensify promotions of Sangkap Pinoy Seal

Status and Recommendation on Flour Fortification with Vitamin A and Iron
Status:
Based on FDA monitoring all local flour millers are fortifying with vitamin A and iron
94% and 92% of all samples tested by FDA in 2009 were fortified with vitamin A and iron
respectively while 77% and 99% were fortified with vitamin A and iron respectively. In 2010
decrease in vitamin A due to non-fortified imported and market samples flour.
58% of samples from local mills for vitamin A and 67% of imported flour for iron were fortified
according to standards.
Recommendations:
Review fortificants for iron and possible other micronutrients to be added to wheat flour
Continue monitoring wheat fortification
Assist flour millers to improve quality of fortification
Need to show impact of flour fortification

Status and Recommendations on Mandatory Fortification of
Refined Sugar with Vitamin A
Status:
Non-fortification by industry due to the unresolved issue of who will bear the cost of
fortification brought about by the quedan system of transferable certificates of sugar
ownership.
Lack of premix production
Fortification of refined sugar would benefit mainly those in the high income group.
Recommendations:
Continue discussions with sugar industry to explore a compromise for fortification i.e.
fortification of washed sugar
Review policy on mandatory fortification of refined sugar

Status and Recommendations on Rice Fortification with Iron
Status:
NFA is fortifying 50% of its rice in 2009 and 2010
With the non fortification of NFA rice, private sector has an excuse for non fortification of its
rice.
There is limited commercial/private sector iron rice premix and iron fortified rice production and
distribution mostly in Mindanao (Region XII and XI) with Gen San having the only commercial
iron rice premix plant in the Philippines and Davao City implementing mandatory rice
fortification in food outlets
NFA conducted communications campaign for its iron fortified rice thru the so called I-rice
campaign though issues remain on the acceptability of its product
Recommendation:
Review of mandatory fortification of rice with iron

Status and Recommendations on Cooking Oil Fortification with Vitamin A
Status:
Based on the samples analyzed by FDA in 2009 and 2010, more than 90% are fortified (91% in
2009 and 94% in 2010)
Samples monitored were labeled and packed
FDA is not monitoring "takal"
Recommendations:
To increase frequency of monitoring by FDA and other agencies such as PCA and LGUs, to
ensure all oil refiners and repackersare monitored at least once a year
Monitoring of takal oil, use of test kit
Monitoring imported oil, FDA and BOC to coordinate
Review policy of mandatory fortification of oil to possibly limit to those mostly used by at risk
population (coconut and palm oil)

Status and Recommendations on Salt Iodization
Status:
Based on the 2008 NNS, 81.1% of households were positive for iodine using Rapid Test Kit (RTK)
In the same survey for Region III, 55.7% were positive for RTK but only 34.2% and 24.2% have
iodine content >5ppm and >15ppm respectively using WYD Tester
For FDA monitoring in 2010, 88% were >5ppm while 44% were >15ppm
FDA started implementing localization of ASIN Law with General Santos City as the 1stto have a
MOA with FDA on localization
Recommendation:
FDA to expand localization of ASIN Law
Set up iodine titration for testing iodine in salt
Continue to intensify monitoring particularly imported and takal salt

Food Fortification Day Theme 2010:
EO 382 declares November 7 as the National Food Fortification Day

IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING AND REVIEW OF FFP
DOH through Food and Drug Administration (FDA) formerly known as Bureau of Food and Drug
Administration (BFAD) serves as the lead implementing and monitoring agency of the Food
Fortification Program
DOH-FDA is assisted by agencies of the Department of Agriculture in monitoring and review of
the law. These are the:
o Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) for sugar
o National Food Authority (NFA) for rice
o Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) for oil
o Bureau of Customs for imported products
o LGUs for markets and food service establishments
National Nutrition Council (NNC) reviews and recommends to the DOH and Congress, and thus,
issues policies or recommendations relative to the fortification program.
Food and Drug Administration is the lead monitoring agency of RA 8976. It is also responsible
for formulating the necessary monitoring protocols.

ADVANTAGES OF FOOD FORTIFICATION
To Manufacturers
It adds value to your product and can help increase the demand for these products.
Food fortification is also an opportunity for the company to promote good nutrition among
consumers and therefore improve the image of your company
To Consumers
With fortification, consumers are assured of value for their money and improved nutrient intake
from buying and consuming fortified foods.
The food fortification seal which is being awarded to manufacturers who fortify their products
according to FDA standards.
It assures consumers that the products are fortified properly and safely



SANGKAP PINOY SEAL PROGRAM

Under Republic Act no. 8976: the "Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000."
A strategy to encourage food manufacturers to fortify processed foods or food products with
essential nutrients at levels approved by the DOH.
Aims to combat our countrys three leading problems in health; namely anemia (Iron deficiency),
iodine-deficiency and Vitamin A deficiency.
The fundamental concept of the program is to authorize food manufacturers to use the DOH seal of
acceptance for processed foods or food products, after these products passed a set of defined
criteria. The seal is a guide used by consumers in selecting nutritious foods
The Sangkap Pinoy Seal (SPS) is the local term referring to the seal given by the Department of
Health (DOH) to food products that have been certified as fortified with three essential
micronutrients, namely: vitamin A, iron and iodine, singly or in combination
Department of Health (DOH) gives the seal, through Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD),to processed
(e.g. instant noodles and chips) and staple (e.g. flour and cooking oil) food products fortified with
essential micronutrients like Vitamin A, Iron and Iodine.
The Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI-DOST) studied the awareness and acceptance of
products with this seal.
The survey said that there is good acceptance and awareness of the SPS. About 25-50% of
households surveyed in the country consumed at least one food item with SPS on a weekly basis.
However, only 16.1% knew what the SPS seal is about.
The survey also found out that among the fortified products with SPS, instant noodles and sardines
are the most commonly consumed by 49.7% and 46.3% respectively. The respondents said they
consumed at least one of these products in a week.
According to the study, children commonly consumed SPS products. Among them, 46.9% ate instant
noodles (Lucky Me noodles, chicken or beef flavors) and 48.8% ate sardines.
SPS are found in products that children love:
o Tang, Eight o clock (fruit juices)
o Ovaltine (chocolate drink)
o Magic flakes (biscuits)
o Lucky Me (instant mami)
o 555 sardines in Tomato Sauce (meat and fish products)
o Oishi, Jack & Jill (snack foods)
o Minola Premium Edible Oil (fats)
o Papa Banana Catsup (condiments)


REFERENCES:
http://www.doh.gov.ph/content/food-fortification-program.html
Philippine Food Fortification Program: List of fortified food products DOH-BFAD Approved (as of
June 2008)