DOST Develops Complementary Baby Food. To Launch Nutrition Improvement Program for Children.

“Insufficient intake of energy and protein-rich foods can result to infant and children that are underweight, underheight and deficient in vitamins and minerals.”
Generally, “malnutrition remains a public health problem in the Philippines particularly among infants and young children”, explains DOST Sec. Mario G. Montejo.
The first 24 months of life are the most critical because nutrition received at such age have lifelong implications in terms of physical and mental development, Montejo added.
The DOST Secretary based his conclusion on the recent National Nutrition Survey, conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, an agency under the Department of Science and Technology.
The FNRI’s extensive survey showed that national malnutrition numbers spike after Filipino babies reach six months to two (2)years old -- a period when most mothers, especially those belonging to lower income groups, usually wean their children from exclusively feeding on breast milk to instead feed on alternatives that are poor in nutrients like “am” .
‘That is obviously a critical stage of development in children that could create irreversible consequences in the future,” DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo noted.
The wintry malnutrition statistics warmed up DOST to develop a low –cost mixed nutrient package which when eaten as a complement to breast milk is expected to improve the nutrition condition of children from 6 months to 2 years old.
The DOST is now preparing to introduce this complementary baby food beginning March, 2011, initially to four (4) provinces: Leyte, Iloilo, Antique and Mindoro Occidental. These provinces were identified as priority areas based on the National Nutrition Survey. Overall, the number of Filipino children to be targeted could reach 500,000.
Already, the DOST-FNRI has started to coordinate with local government units in other provinces for the distribution of packets of its complementary foods such as rice-mongo instant blend, rice-soy instant blends, and rice-mongo-sesame blend. These easy-on-the-pocket food options were developed by DOST-FNRI nutrition experts to meet the required nutrition intake of Filipino children.
DOST-FNRI field testing of complementary foods showed significant weight improvement among children after only one month of feeding.

Montejo wants to implement a massive anti-malnutrition campaign over the long term in cooperation with other government agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development to expand its coverage and operational effectiveness.(S&T Media Service)