DOST provides RTE foods and drinks to supplement fight against hunger
Published May 10, 2020, 4:40 PM
The Department of Science and Technology – Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) has distributed some 7,000 packets of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods and drinks to cities in Manila and three other regions as the country continues to fight off the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
DOST-ITDI continues to provide interventions to help with the challenges as we battle this pandemic.
Aside from the RTE foods, the institute already provided to local government units (LGUs) LGUs in March.
ITDI director Dr. Annabelle V. Briones, through Food Processing Division (FPD) chief Dr. Norberto E. Ambagan recently donated more than 1,000 mungbean-coconut milk beverages in stand-up pouches to Pasig City and Plaridel in Bulacan through the Ang-Hortaleza Foundation of the Hortaleza Group of Companies in Valenzuela City.
Developed by FPD, the beverage is made from protein-rich green mungbeans and creamy coconut milk. Just like with soy milk, it can be enjoyed as an everyday healthy drink or as an alternative to dairy milk.
Lactose intolerant individuals can use it for other food preparations such as coffee, tea, breakfast cereals, shakes, and smoothies. Mungbean-coconut milk is also shelf-stable for a year.
Meanwhile, other regions of the country continue to receive RTE foods from DOST-ITDI. Director Briones through Packaging Technology Division Chief Daisy E. Tañafranca, donated 3,000 ready-to-eat (RTE) smoked fish rice meals in pouches to DSWD Region IV-A.
PTD-ITDI then distributed RTE Chicken Arroz Caldo in Isabela Province in Region II. It tapped one of the province’s disadvantaged and remote barangays and DOST II’s CEST (Community Empowerment through Science and Technology) Program beneficiaries.
Produced by Kai Anya Foods International, an ITDI technology adopter, PTD’s RTE foods may be used as an alternative food choice to relieve hunger pangs. While ready-to-eat, those desiring hot chicken arroz caldo can have it heated directly in boiling water.
During the earlier part of the implementation of ECQ, DOST-ITDI has already distributed more than 15,000 RTE Chicken Arroz Caldo in pouches in Taguig, Pasig, Manila, San Juan, and Quezon City; Davao City received 5,010 pouches of the chicken soup and rice meals.
