The Rizal provincial government, together with Sen. Imee Marcos, launched the pilot testing for the Nutribun Feeding Program aiming to ensure food security and curb malnutrition of children amid the various economic and social issues affecting the country's food security.
Rizal Governor Nina Ynares posted photos of the program on her Facebook page where she and Marcos visited the town of Tanay on Sept. 11, to distribute the said bread to children aged 3 to 5 years old.
According to her, the Enhanced Nutribuns are made of squash, malunggay, and other vegetables rich in nutritional value that provides the essential nutrients and minerals a child needs.
"Tulad ng ginagawa sa ating mga feeding programs, tututukan at imomonitor ng ating mga health officers at nutrition scholars ang timbang at kalusugan ng mga bata (Just like what we always do in our feeding programs, our health officers and nutrition scholars will monitor the weight and health of the kids)," Ynares said.
On July 29, 2020, the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) conducted the first-ever online soft launching of the enhanced nutribun dubbed as “Ang Pagbabalik ng Nutribun”.
The virtual launching of Enhanced Nutribun was attended by 399 participants from different regions and offices.
These included DOST Regional Offices and Provincial Science and Technology Centers, DOST Research and Development Institutes and Councils, Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Nutrition Council Field Offices, academe, hospitals, other government agencies like Philippine Navy and PhilRice, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), like bakeries and other food manufacturers.
The DOST-FNRI first conducted a research to reformulate the bread of the 70s, the Nutribun. The reformulated version is called the Enhanced Nutribun.
The Enhanced Nutribun has more micronutrients like iron and vitamin A. The texture is softer and weighs 160 to 165 grams per piece, which is easier for children to hold and bite.
The agency said that each serving of the Enhanced Nutribun has 504 calories, 17.8 grams protein, 6.08 milligrams iron, and 244 micrograms vitamin A.