A Science and Technology-based Solution to Malnutrition via complementary food innovation for the Filipino Kids
S&T based solution to child malnutrition
Abstract
In the Philippines, the malnutrition rate remains at a level that is considered as a public health problem. The Department of Science and Technology - Food and Nutrition Research Institute’s (DOST-FNRI) 2018 Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS) reported 25.5% of less than two-year old children were stunted, 15.0% were underweight, and 7.4% were wasted.
With this as background, this article describes a social innovation for infants and young children and their mothers as a contribution in addressing the problem. The intervention has the components of complementary feeding for young children and nutrition education for their mothers and/or caregivers. The complementary foods are locally made and processed from rice, mungbean and sesame rich in protein and energy specifically for young children and nutrition education to educate the mothers on proper nutrition.
The food technology and the nutrition intervention have been rolled-out nationwide and has proven to be effective as demonstrated in some field studies conducted both in normal and disaster conditions. As the innovation was adopted and implemented by various local government units in the country, the results were favorable in terms of improving the nutritional status of young children.
The scaling-up of the innovation needs advocacy and an issuance of a policy memorandum for the adoption of the intervention by the Local Government Units and its institutionalization nationwide. The social innovation is envisioned to be sustained as part of the first 1000 days’ program of the government.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2021 Social Innovations Journal

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The Social Innovations Journal permits the Creative Commons License:
CC Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0
Under the following terms:
-
Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
-
NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
-
NoDerivatives — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you may not distribute the modified material.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Notices:
- You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation.
- No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material
Copyright and Publishing Rights
For the licenses indicated above, authors retain the copyright and full publishing rights without restrictions.