In
Insight
Asia
any governments of the world have considered that food security is a critical aspect of nation security. According to Food Act of Indonesia; namely Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 18 / 2012 on Food, food security is a“ condition of the fulfillment of food for the country up to the individual, which is reflected in the availability of adequate food, both in quantity and quality, safe, diverse, nutritious, equitable, and affordable and does not conflict with religion, beliefs, and culture, to be able to live healthy, active, and productive in a sustainable manner”. In other words; the vision of national food security( according to Food Law of Indonesia No. 18 / 2012) is to achieve nutrition and health status of the population; indicated by the fact that all individuals would have a healthy, active, and productive live in a sustainable manner.
It’ s realized that one important stakeholders of food security is food industry. The question is, what and how the role of Indonesia’ s food industry to address the challenges of food security?
Special Message
Food industry rely on food ingredients in developing the functional foods demanded by their consumers.
Dr. Purwiyatno Hariyadi
Professor of Food Process Engineering at the Department of Food Science and Technology of Bogor Agircultural University( IPB)
and Chief Editor of Indonesia’ s only trade publication for food industry: Food Review Indonesia
The role of Indonesia’ s food industry in addressing the challenges of
national food security
M
‘
,
Department of Food Science and Technology of Bogor Agircultural University( IPB)
First, the role of food industry is beyond providing basic nutrition. Through the kind of food product produced, food industry not only will influence the nutritional status of the individual; but also on overall health and productivity, in a sustainable manner. Food industry; by assuring the safety, nutrition and quality of food products produced; have a direct impact on the health and nutritional status of their consumers. Therefore, the food industry also has a strong influence on improving productivity of individuals( consumers) who consume their food products.
Therefore; Indonesian national food industry development should be driven and directed not only for business purposes, but also for the achievement of the vision of improved nutrition and health status of the population, which is a vision of national food security.
As a responsible organization, food industry should have initiatives that directly and indirectly has the potential to improve the nutritional status and health of the community is to provide a food product is safe, nutritious and quality. Various possibilities for direct initiative that can be done, among other things, are:
1. Conduct an evaluation of the quality and content / nutrient composition of food produced; and concomitantly do the analysis on the relevance of their products with national nutrition and health development. If needed; the food industry should make adjustments; by doing the reformulation, substitution with more suitable ingredient.
2. Establish tighter control of some ingredients that have become public health issues; such as in relation to calories, sugar, sodium, saturated fat, trans fat, acrylamide, and others.
3. Developing new food products that have the potential to solve problems of nutrition and the public’ s health; for example by introducing a variety of different local functional ingredient for health; such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and others in accordance with the guidelines of relevant nutrition( dietary guidelines).
4. Develop a smaller food product size( portion) and / or new products which can provide sense of fullness( satiety) and appetite control, particularly to overcome the problems of obesity.
Food industry has always been very interested in developing new and better food products; with the objective of improving health and wellness. As the consumers are becoming more aware of the relationship between diet and health and wellness; their demand on foods that can provide benefits beyond basic nutrition is also increasing.
Food industry rely on food ingredients in developing the functional foods demanded by their consumers. Food ingredients are needed for formulating a new food to provide those needed extra benefits; ranging from anti-aging, prevent diseases, improve immune system, to inducing satiety.
Example of such needed ingredients are antioxidants, fibers, calcium, and vitamin D and may more. Omega-3 fatty acids, for example, may be needed to promote better brain development and memory; oat beta glucan may associated with reduces the risk of heart disease; chicory root fiber may contributes to better blood glucose management, and more and more. In general; food industry is looking for ingredient with potential of promoting optimal health and helping reduce the risk of disease.
The upcoming Food ingredients( Fi) Asia will be an exchange between ingredients suppliers and food & beverage manufacturers to accelerate the growth and development of innovative food & beverage products. The event embraces all elements of the entire food industry, from suppliers, manufacturers, researchers, scientists, regulators to academics.
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