THE Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is stepping up efforts to ensure the accuracy of nutrition labels and strengthen food testing standards in Northern Mindanao.
Laboratory analysts from the DOST Northern Mindanao Regional Standards and Testing Laboratory (RSTL) recently completed a refresher course on nutrition labeling and quality control protocols to improve laboratory precision and reliability.
The training, held from September 30 to October 1 at the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) in Taguig City, focused on updating regional analysts with international and national standards on nutrition labeling and laboratory validation methods.
The initiative aims to ensure that food packaging information, such as calorie counts, macronutrient values, and serving sizes, is backed by verified test results and scientifically sound processes.
The enhanced laboratory capacity, per DOST, will benefit small and medium food manufacturers in Northern Mindanao, many of whom rely on government laboratories for compliance testing.
The move is also expected to support industry competitiveness and consumer protection through more credible and transparent food information.
The initiative aligns with the Food Safety Act of 2013, which seeks to strengthen the country’s food safety system and protect consumer health, as well as the Food and Drug Administration Order 30, which provides updated rules on the labeling of prepackaged food products to promote fair trade and truthful information.
Moreover, recent data from FNRI’s Food and Vegetable for Sustainable Healthy Diet (FRESH) Project showed that many Filipinos still fall short of recommended daily intakes of fruits, vegetables and protein-rich foods.