DOST opens plant for healthy rice-mongo products
A NEW food manufacturing plant in Sta. Barbara town, which will produce healthy food products for infants and toddlers, was opened last week by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
The DOST’s Complementary Foods Manufacturing Plant will mass-produce “Rimo” — for rice and monggo (moringa) – in the form of instant blend for babies six months to one year old and curls for children one to three years old.
Rimo was developed by the DOST through the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI).
Private company Long Live Pharma will manage the plant and handle the marketing of the products.
Dr. Mario Capanzana, FNRI director for the Ilocos Region, said the project intends to address malnutrition, particularly undernourishment, among children.
“Children who are not fed properly and on-time usually grow up stunted,” Capanzana said.
A 30-gram pack of Rimo blend contains 120 kilocalories and four grams of protein, which constitute 17 percent and 29 percent of the recommended daily allowance of calorie and protein, respectively.
Rimo Curls, on the other hand, contains 130 kilocalories and 4 grams protein, constituting1.1 percent and 14.3 percent of the daily recommended intake.
The plant can produce 432,000 to one million of each of the products monthly.
“Regular consumption of at least one to two packs of Rimo Blend or Rimo Curls for a period of 120 days will significantly increase the nutritional status of children,” according to a study by the FNRI-DOST.
Capanzana said Long Live Pharma will distribute the products in commercial and social markets.
Serving as the social markets are non-government agencies, which will use the products for their free supplemental feeding programs.
“Children undergoing supplemental feeding programs are fed porridge or noodles, which contain large amount of carbohydrate but insufficient amount of protein,” Capanzana added.
Racky Doctor, general manager of Long Live Pharma, said the tie-up with the government is part of the corporation’s mission to provide innovate health products to every Filipino. (PIA-1 Pangasinan/ARF)
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