A Healthier Philippines: How do we achieve it?

What makes “good food”, great? It can be the taste for some. For others, it can be the presentation. However, the most important factor should be the process of making it. Good food can be elevated with great care. To ensure that food quality and safety are at its highest before it is put on groceries, sari-sari stores, and markets shelves, a local body works with its member manufacturers to advocate for products that are compliant to standards and regulations.

The Philippine Chamber of Food Manufacturers Inc (PCFMI) is the principal organization of food manufacturers and distributors in the Philippines. They recently elected a new board of directors and officers this 2023. Their main priority is to achieve a food-secure, healthier Philippines through the following:

Responsible food production
Using plastic is a norm for everyone. When doing groceries, almost every product is packaged in plastic. However, this can be harmful to the environment. This is why food manufacturers are taking action by lessening the use of plastic in their product’s packaging. In support of this advocacy, PCFMI continuously holds discussions with experts about plastic waste and legislation.

Promoting food quality and safety
Every food business’ main priority are the quality and safety of their products. People consume food everyday – a single mistake from manufacturers could potentially impact their customers. To further raise awareness about food quality and safety for businesses, PCFMI organizes a series of meetings for its members and stakeholders. They feature experts that share knowledge on food safety risks and relevant topics.

Wide representation across the food industry
Food comes in different shapes and sizes. There are packaged drinks, tinned fruits, cereals, baked goods, etc. This is why it’s important for PCFMI to have representatives from different food businesses. With the help of its newly elected board of directors, PCFMI continuously builds bridges to champion a healthier food agenda for the country.

Unilever Philippines aims to fast-track this change as well. As one of the leading food manufacturers in the Philippines, Unilever partnered with PCFMI to take urgent action on this advocacy. Both organizations are a force to be reckoned with in achieving a food secure, healthier Philippines.

For more details about their mission, visit PCFMI’s website and Unilever Philippines’ page.