DOST develops low-fat 'healthy' ice cream

Now, Filipinos can say "healthy" and "ice cream" in the same sentence.

The Department of Science and Technology's Food and Nutrition Research Institute has developed a low-fat ice cream that may let people with hypertension or diabetes enjoy the treat.

"[A] cup of this FNRI-developed ice cream at 100 grams contains only 0.46 grams of fat compared with other commercial brands with about 10.9 grams. Likewise, the FNRI formulation makes use of both ordinary and substitute sugar as sweetener at less than 0.1 gram per serving," the DOST said on its website.

Despite the low levels of fat and sugar, the DOST said the frozen delight is "equally loaded with ice cream goodness."

The DOST also suggested people with conditions like hypertension or diabetes, who could only watch while their friends enjoy ice cream, can now join the fun.

"[W]ill these people have to suffer in silence and miss out the fun out of this tropical weather? Maybe not," it said.

Meanwhile, the DOST said another advantage of the FNRI-developed ice cream is that it is priced much lower than commercial brands, due to its requiring only P1 million in capital investment, including the use of blast freezers to quickly freeze the food items.  

So far, said DOST, Bulacan-based Dairyman Ice Cream has adopted the new technology and manufacturing process.

Dairyman sells the healthful treats in selected outlets in the provinces and Metro Manila in vanilla, ube, chocolate and buko pandan flavors, it added.

The DOST credited FNRI researchers Ma. Elena Fernandez, Wenefrida Lainez and Dahlia Diaz for developing the formula, process and manufacturing technology. — BM, GMA News