The Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), the principal research arm of the government in food and nutrition, is one of the research and develoopment institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). It was created under Executive Order No. 128 signed on January 30, 1987. As such, the Institute is committed to pursue the goals and objectives of the National Science and Technology Plan (NSTP) and the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN).
For sixty-one years, the Institute continues to provide relevant technologies and scientific information on food and nutrition. Some of its major accomplishments include the development and commercialization of nutritional food products; conduct of periodic nationwide nutrition surveys; development of analytical food quality and safety assurance system; strategies and programs to address the malnutrition problem and tools, guidelines and standards to serve the needs of nutrition and nutrition-related workers. All these technologies are transferred to health and nutrition program implementors as well as the households and communities with the end view of improving the quality of life of Filipinos.
The Food and Nutrition Research Institute is one of the research and development institutes (RDIs) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
The chronology of the events to its present status follows:
1947 - Creation of the Institute of Nutrition (IN) under the Office of the President as the clearing-house of data and information concerning nutrition (Exec. Order 94)
1948 - Creation of the IN Board for an integrated and multisectoral approach to malnutrition
1949 -Inclusion in the mandate of the IN to undertake research in the applied science of food and nutrition (Administrative Order No. 81)
1950 - Transfer of the IN to the Department of Health (Executive Order 392)
1958 - Transfer of the newly created National Science Development Board (NSDB) as the Food and Nutrition Research Center (FNRC) under the National Institute of Science and technology(NIST) (RA 2058)
1973 - Attainment of full agency status directly under the NSDB as a research and development institute
1975 - Renaming of the FNRC into Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) upon conversion of NSDB to the National Science and Technology Authority (NSTA) under PD. 733.
1987 - Redefinition of the functions of FNRI upon reorganization of NSTA to DOST (Executive Order No. 128)
1993 - Transfer of the FNRI to its newly constructed building at the DOST Compound, Bicutan, Taguig, Metro Manila
1994 - Designation of FNRI as an Associated Institution of the United Nations University
1996 - Designation of the FNRI's national nutrition surveys and regional updating of the nutritional status of Filipino children among the statistical activities that will generate critical data for decision-making of the government and private sector
(E.O. 351)
2001 - Accreditation to ISO 17025 of the FNRI's Food Analytical Service Laboratory (FASL) under the Department of Trade and Industry's Bureau of Product Standards Laboratory Accreditation Scheme
