Improving nutrition goes beyond encouraging healthier choices. For Filipino families, making better food decisions also means ensuring that nutritious options are affordable, accessible, practical, and supported by clear and credible nutrition information.

Recognizing these challenges, Monde Nissin brought together leaders from the nutrition, community development, and food sectors for “The Better Food Conversation: Nourishment on Every Filipino Plate,” an initiative focused on turning discussions around nutrition into practical action.

Turning Dialogue Into Action

The event featured an expert panel composed of Dr. Clarissa Juanico, President of the Philippine Stakeholders for Nutrition and Dietetics; Cloyd Masaudling, Executive Director of Aguhon Movement for Governance; registered nutritionist-dietitian and content creator Jo Sebastian; and Atty. Olive Misa, Head of Corporate and Government Affairs at Monde Nissin Corporation.

The gathering also brought together stakeholders from across the Philippine food and nutrition sector, including representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Philippine Association of Nutrition, Philippine Stakeholders for Nutrition and Dietetics, Nutritionist Dietitians’ Association of the Philippines Foundation, Scaling Up Nutrition Business Network, and the University of the Philippines Los Baños.

The discussion highlighted the realities that influence how Filipino families make food choices, emphasizing the need for evidence-based nutrition communication and stronger collaboration among government agencies, nutrition experts, communities, academia, and the private sector.

“Better nutrition is not only about knowing what to eat. It is also about whether families can afford the food, find it where they usually shop, and understand how it can fit into their everyday meals,” said Kevin Carpio, Nutrition Advocacy Manager of Monde Nissin.

Dr. Juanico likewise emphasized the importance of collective action in creating healthier food environments where nutritious choices can become more achievable for Filipino families.

For Sebastian, making better nutrition choices should not necessarily mean giving up familiar foods. Instead, she encouraged consumers to focus on simple additions that can improve the nutritional value of everyday meals.

“We need to focus on making additions rather than restrictions,” she said, citing simple additions such as cabbage and an egg to instant noodles as an example of how small changes can contribute to better nutrition without making healthy eating feel unattainable.

A Long-Term Commitment to Better Food

During the event, Monde Nissin introduced Better Food Forward (BFF), an advocacy that brings together science, product innovation, nutrition education, and multi-sector partnerships to help make better food more accessible to Filipino families.

The initiative is built around three interconnected pillars: Products, Programs, and Partnerships.

Through these pillars, Better Food Forward aims to support the continuous improvement of Monde Nissin’s product portfolio, provide consumers with practical nutrition education, and develop partnerships that can contribute to healthier food environments.

Carpio emphasized that the initiative reflects Monde Nissin’s long-term commitment to addressing nutrition through measurable action, while recognizing that the country’s nutrition challenges require collective efforts from multiple sectors.

Building Healthier Products Through Innovation

As part of the launch, Monde Nissin shared progress across its existing portfolio. According to the company, 73% of its revenue currently comes from fortified products, 32% of its products have reduced sodium, and 100% of its portfolio is free from trans fats.

In 2025, Monde Nissin products also delivered an estimated 2 billion servings of Vitamin A, 3 billion servings of iron, and 542 million servings of Vitamin C to Filipino consumers.

The company also introduced the Monde Nissin Nutrition Criteria, a science-based internal tool designed to guide product innovation and renovation as it works toward expanding its portfolio of healthier products by 2030.

Among its ongoing initiatives are sodium reduction across selected products, proprietary air-fried noodle technology designed to reduce fat and calories, and continued food fortification aimed at addressing key nutrient gaps among Filipino consumers.

Moving the Conversation Forward

For Monde Nissin, Better Food Forward is intended to evolve through continued research, innovation, and engagement rather than function as a one-time campaign.

“Today’s launch is not the end point. It is an invitation to continue the conversation and identify where our respective expertise, reach, and capabilities can complement one another,” said Rico Gonzales, Chief Business Officer of Monde Nissin.

Gonzales added that the initiative aims to work with partners to establish priorities, develop practical nutrition solutions, and create credible ways to measure progress.

At its core, Better Food Forward is built around the belief that better food should be within reach of every Filipino family.

As the advocacy moves forward, Monde Nissin aims to strengthen collaboration across sectors and help make nourishing food choices more accessible, practical, and easier to adopt for Filipino families.