Invention: Enriched Rice

“Vanguard of Public Health”

➢ Served as Secretary of Health during Quirino Administration
➢ Widely known as an authority in nutrition and public health
and a medical statesman and published 265 works and researches
In the Philippines and foreign journals about medicine,
science, and technology.
➢ Became the President of the World Health Organization
Assembly from 1952-1953
➢ Chairman of the National Research Council of the Philippines
from 1961-1976
➢ Developed “Enriched Rice”, a rice variety fortified with
Vitamin B1, which helps prevent Beriberi. His discovery helped
reduce the case of Beriberi in the Philippines and in other countries.
 The Enriched Rice experiment of Dr. Juan Salcedo
Jr. brought a great impact to the society especially to the
public health, food problems, and nutrition which is his main
How did the focus. His invention Enriched Rice provided solution to the
invention and outbreak of Beriberi disease in the Philippines during the
discovery impact years 1882-1883. Beriberi is a disease brought by the
the society? deficiency of thiamine or vitamin B1. It was widely spread
among the regions whose staple food was polished rice. This
type of rice has undergone de-husking in order to prolong its
life which unintentionally resulted to the removal of thiamine.
He implemented the "enriched rice experiment" which
Rice Fact: Brown rice
Contains more fiber fortified the rice with Vitamin B" This enriched rice became
Than white rice.
the staple food of those affected by beriberi in the
Philippines, thus, eliminating the problem.
Because he was highly successful in all his work,
Salcedo is believed to have influenced many scientists and
Rice Fact: Rice
is naturally
technicians, particularly those involved in the governments
gluten-free thrust toward economic emancipation, in developing interest
and pursuing studies in science and technology, thus
enlarging the core of the nation's scientific manpower.
 After concluding the experiment of Salcedo on Enriched Rice to be successful, it led to
the enactment of the Rice Enrichment Law which required that all rice millers and
wholesalers enrich the rice they milled or traded. The government has plans to extend
the program to 1,800,000 people by the end of 1951, which is roughly 10 percent of the
entire population with a beriberi death rate of 4,400 persons per year. The procurement
How is the
invention and of additional rice enriching equipment has made it possible to introduce enriched rice in
discovery Tarlac and Pangasinan, two provinces with the next highest death rates from beriberi.
supported by the Extensive clinical surveys of these larger populations may not be possible, but
government? continued collection of mortality statistics in these provinces as well as in Bataan should
furnish evidence of the public health value of rice enrichment. Health authorities are
greatly concerned about legislation providing for compulsory enrichment of all white rice
in the country.
Did the invention
and discovery
serve the public
good?

Definitely, the invention and discovery of enriched

rice of Salcedo has greatly serve the public good as
this resulted to the eradication of Beriberi disease in
the country and believed to have saved thousands of
lives of Filipino people. Moreover, it contributed to
the nutritional improvement of the food supply and
the alleviation of poverty.

Rice Fact: Sticky rice

Contains the highest
amount
of amylopectin.
Rice Fact: Brown
rice may not be as
“healthy” as people
believe.