The Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) presented the 2014 Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intake for Filipinos (RENI) during the Stakeholders' Conference at the Traders Hotel Manila on October 3, 2014.
The conference presented the updated and revised RENI generated feedback from concerned sectors on the changes in the levels of nutrients needed to remain healthy.
The RENI is used to denote recommendations for energy and 21 nutrients including protein, folate, calcium, and zinc for the maintenance of health and well-being of nearly all healthy persons in the population.
For example, women need more iron than men, while a pregnant woman needs more of the essential nutrients than a non-pregnant woman. Moreover, some nutrients should be consumed more frequently, such as water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C. Other nutrients, on the other hand, can be harmful if more than what is recommended is taken, like vitamin A.
FNRI Director, Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, welcomed the participants and introduced the members of the RENI Committee, its task forces and technical working group.
The committee is composed of experts and specialists in health and nutrition from the academe, medical and health, and pharmaceutical fields.
Session I of the conference was the review of the process of determining the new levels and presentation on the energy and other nutrients. Session II focused on the levels of fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins, while the mineral levels were presented during Session III. The highlight of the conference was the response from the stakeholders where each sector reacted and gave comments.
The sector on Nutrition Education and Practice represented by Dr. Adela Jamorabo-Ruiz, President of the Nutritionist-Dietitians' Association of the Philippines (NDAP), stressed the importance of teaching students to understand and use the RENI.
Ms. Jessamyn O. Encarnacion of the Social Sector Statistics Services from the Phlippine Statistics Authority said that they will adopt this new standards in the computation of food poverty estimation.
Ms. Encarnacion clarified that standards are only updated every 10 years and these will take effect in 2020.
On Food and Nutrition Policy, Ms. Ellen Ruth F. Fabella of the National Nutrition Council said that the new standards will help improve and shape policy in achieving a healthy and well-nourished country.
The conference was a good venue for discussion and setting up the 2014 RENI as the standard of achieving adequate energy and nutrient intakes for Filipinos.
These stakeholders await the official launching of the 2014 RENI in order to inform the public on new recommendations and their importance.
Remember, RENI is a guide to good nutrition that can help in food choices.
