DOST develops two kinds of emergency foods

• Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=834831
• Sunday, December 6, 2015

(PNA), RMA/TPGJR

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) has developed two kinds of emergency foods that can be used relief foods in times of calamities.

Dr. Anthony Sales, Mindanao DOST cluster chairman, told the Philippines News Agency in an interview at the sideline of the 2015 Mindanao Science and Technology (S&T) Fair that one of the two kinds of emergency foods is ready for mass production while the other is undergoing storage stability study.

The 2015 Mindanao S&T Fair showcased the various innovative technologies the DOST has developed. It reeled off Thursday and ended Saturday.

Sales said the first kind of emergency food was the high energy “polvoron bar,” which is fondly known as “Filipino crack.”

Sales said the polvoron bar was already being produced by a small and medium enterprise (SMEs) in Luzon while they were eyeing the food innovation center of the Philippines Women’s College to produce it for the Mindanao area.

Sales said the second kind of emergency food ITDIdeveloped was the ready-to-eat rice porridge (arroz caldo), which is undergoing storage stability study and analysis.

He said the rice porridge, like the polvoron bar, would be mass produced once the storage stability study is completed.

He said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) could stock the emergency foods, which can be distributed as relief foods to disaster victims in times of calamity.

He said the production of the emergency foods would be helpful for the DSWD in addressing the needs, especially food, of disaster victims.

“Once the emergency foods are ready, we can immediately distribute it to the people affected by disasters in times of calamities,” he added.