To help out the government struggle malnutrition problems in the country, Department of Science and Technology and DOST’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute launched during the second day of the Mindanao Inventions Contest and Exposition 2010, the vitamin A-rich pan de sal and loaf bread produced by the Bread Net Bakeshop and J-Gem-R Bakery and Food Products.
The said launching is part of the squash bread reinforcement program, which aims to help fight micronutrient malnutrition. This was the outcome of DOST-FNRI’s study wherein children suffering from vitamin A deficiency were found out to have improved their health condition after being fed with squash breads for 90 days.
Donna Nueva Ecija, Director of the Davao City Science and Technology Center, said that the two local bakeshops are trained and authorized by DOST-FNRI to produce squash breads in the city.
Squash breads are proven to help improve the weight of a child and give good eyesight, which results to his or her good performance at school.
Aside from Davao Region, DOST-FNRI is planning to train and assist bakeshops that are willing to adapt the squash bread making. [via pia.gov.ph]