Philippines Govt. Urged To Sell Fortified Rice

Rice experts in Philippines have urged the country's National Food Authority (NFA) to sell more iron-fortified rice (IFR) all over the country to reduce the increasing vitamin A deficiency among children.

Herculano Co, president of the Philippine Confederation of Grains Associations (Philcongrains), said NFA is the most logical agency to promote the consumption of IFR since it has 14,581 Tindahan sa Nation (TN) outlets nationwide out of a total of 23,800 market outlets.

The NFA Council, the policy making body of the agency, also wants TN outlets to distribute 100 percent IFR at P18.25 per kilo exclusively for families with Family Access Cards issued by the Department of Social Welfare and Development in NCR and those listed in the TN Rice Allocation Ledger in the provinces.