FUNCTIONAL FOODS IN THE PHILIPPINES

摘要

The existence of nutrition-related lifestyle diseases in the Philippines motivated an in-depth study on functional foods. This paper describes functional foods as food products, which have demonstrated physiological benefits providing protection and/or reduced the risk against chronic diseases beyond the nutritional function. The Philippines generated information on functional food starting from formative research; characterization of potential ingredients; product, process and technology development; and validation of health claims (in-vitro, in-vivo and clinical studies) to some extent. Majority of functional food known in the country is in the form of plant extract with medicinal value while commercially available functional food products are mostly in the form of beverages (tea and dairy-based products). The Philippine government does not have existing regulation specifically on functional foods. However, the Philippine Bureau of Food and Drug Administration (BFAD) has a mandate to regulate the manufacture and sale of different processed foods. Significant number of competent and trained scientists and technologists are needed to conduct scientific investigation on functional food, such that the product developed can reach the intended market. Physical facilities for testing and evaluation are in-placed but needs upgrading to meet projected demand and degree of sophistication for analytical technique. Though functional foods is not really new in the Philippines, there are still gaps to be addressed like government regulations on labeling, methodologies to validate health claims, harmonized terminology/definition related to functional foods among others. The availability of functional foods in the Philippines will undoubtedly help solve the prevalence of preventable nutrition/diet related lifestyle diseases that are now emerging in the country.