Update on Rice Fortification in the Philippines

Abstract

Rice, the staple in all regions in the Philippines, is an excellent vehicle for fortification. The Food and Nutrition Research Institute developed the technology for the fortification of rice with iron, using ferrous sulphate as the fortificant. A prototype machine was manufactured for the production of iron-fortified premix with a capacity of 200 kg per batch. A study on iron bioavailability showed a significant increase in the amount of iron absorbed with iron-fortified rice. A clinical trial conducted with 173 schoolchildren for six months showed a greater increase in haemoglobin in subjects who received iron-fortified rice than in those who did not. The problems and constraints that arise with rice fortification include the added cost of fortification (estimated at 2.5% of the cost of rice), which would probably be passed on to the consumer, and the presence of numerous rice mills throughout the country, which may pose difficulties in enforcement. Nevertheless, when carried out in large rice mills, fortification of rice with iron could reach a significant portion of the population.