dotdailydose
With Filipino consumers today wanting food and beverages that provide value, nutrition, and taste, dairy stands out advantageously to deliver on these expectations.
A trade seminar today organized by the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) – From Supply to Innovation: Empowering Nutrition with U.S. Dairy Ingredients – convened food manufacturers, nutrition experts, and industry leaders to discuss the role of dairy in advancing nutrition. Discussions also spotlighted how the United States’ broad and versatile range of dairy powder ingredients align with consumer trends and innovation opportunities for the Philippine market.
A key theme emerging from the expert-led sessions was nutritional affordability in the context of a healthy diet, to help consumers get greater nutritional value from their food budget.
“There is a common perception that nutritious foods are expensive,” said Dr. Sylvia Chungchunlam of the Riddet Institute, New Zealand. “Rather than solely focusing on price, it’s important to view foods through a nutritional lens. Good choices like dairy deliver high nutritional value for the amount spent.”
Creating Better Value Through Better Nutrition
Research presented at the seminar by Dr. Chungchunlam found that dairy foods have an important place in nutritionally adequate diets. Dairy foods can help bridge important nutrient gaps, particularly for protein which is important for supporting growth and development, building and repairing muscle, and overall health.
Milk and dairy ingredients such as skim milk powder and whey and milk proteins provide nutritionally high-quality protein, meaning it is complete in containing all nine essential amino acids. Milk itself is nutrient-rich and provides a range of vitamins and minerals beyond its well-known calcium contribution.
Getting sufficient quantity and quality protein is especially important in the Philippines, where child stunting is declining but at a slower rate than national targets. Older adults are also at risk for inadequate protein intake, which can contribute to frailty and sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass and function.
Dr Cecilia Acuin, Associate Professor, Institute of Human Nutrition and Food, Philippines who spoke about the Philippines Nutrition Landscape shared: “Rice remains a staple of the Filipino diet and an important source of protein. However, rice protein alone may not provide all the essential amino acids needed to meet nutritional requirements. Complementing rice with other high-quality protein sources like dairy can help improve the overall quality of the diet. By combining affordability with high-quality protein and essential nutrients, the food industry can play an important role in improving nutrition for Filipino consumers.”
Multiple Dimensions to Deliver Value
Custom consumer research by USDEC, also shared at the seminar, reveals a growing expectation for foods and beverages to deliver meaningful nutrition, while remaining affordable, tasty, and convenient.
Good value for money is the single most important factor influencing food and beverage purchases among Filipino consumers. This was cited by 75% of respondents according to insights from USDEC’s Consumption Tracker1, a survey monitoring consumer behavior and preferences in Southeast Asia across food and beverage categories that include dairy items as well as products made with dairy ingredients.
At the same time, 58% of respondents look for high-quality nutritional ingredients highlighting the growing importance of nutrition in their food choices. This is also reflected in how Filipinos view dairy, where supporting overall good health is the single most important reason mentioned by Filipinos for consuming dairy products such as milk and yoghurt.
The tussle between the desire for healthy food, while balancing the need for value was also reflected in other studies, such as one from Euromonitor which revealed that despite 81% of Filipinos stating that they are concerned about rising costs, 64% still prioritize looking for healthy ingredients in food, while 42% plan to increase spending on health and wellness.2
“Value today is no longer defined by price alone,” said Anoo Pothen, Vice President, Strategic Insights, U.S. Dairy Export Council. “Consumers define value for money as nutritious products that are also affordable, convenient and tasty.”
Pothen continued: “This desire also extends to an expectation that products are easily available so that these choices are frictionless and seamless for occasions throughout the day.”
Supporting Innovation in the Philippines
These insights signal the opportunity for manufacturers to rethink how value is created in supporting the nutritional goals for Filipinos. As consumers become more discerning, products today must deliver the right combination of nutrition, quality, convenience, taste, and affordability to fit evolving Filipino lifestyles.
For USDEC, helping manufacturers translate these evolving consumer and nutrition priorities into commercially relevant products remains an important part of its work in the Philippines. With a broad portfolio that includes whey protein, milk protein, skim milk powder, and other dairy ingredients, U.S. dairy offers manufacturers a versatile formulation toolkit to meet different nutritional and functional goals across a wide range of applications—from beverages, yoghurt, and bakery products to snacks and ready-to-eat meals.
“The Philippines remains one of USDEC’s most important markets globally and the largest destination for U.S. dairy exports within Southeast Asia,” said Dali Ghazalay, Regional Director, U.S. Dairy Export Council, Southeast Asia. “USDEC has long been a partner to the Philippines food and beverage industry, helping manufacturers deliver more value by combining the nutrition consumers need with the taste, convenience, and benefits they expect. We will continue working alongside our industry partners to inspire practical innovations that support better nutrition for Filipino consumers and contributing to the country’s nutrition goals.”
