Canned rice now in 3 varieties

After two years of piloting the production of canned rice, Turris Philippines, Inc. has already come up with three varieties of the newly developed product that are affordable, flavorful, preservative-free and Muslim-friendly in addition to the original canned plain rice.

The three new varieties of canned rice are chili dulong, fiesta beef longganisa, and chicken curry, according to a report of PhilRice [Philippine Rice Research Institute] researcher Jane G. Payumo.

Each can contains 270 to 320 grams of flavored canned rice, which can serve two to three persons, with price ranging from P45 to P55. The product can be consumed with minimal microwave heating or by immersing the can in boiling water in a minute or two. It has been found to last for one year without spoilage. Sinandomeng, a popular Philippine rice variety, is used as basal rice for the canned products.

Canned rice was developed jointly by PhilRice and UP Diliman through the leadership of Dr. Patricia V. Azanza, food science and nutrition professor in the UP College of Home Economics. Turris Philippines, Inc., a local food company, provided financial assistance in testing the commercial viability of the developed technology.

Canned rice could very well be the answer to the need for decent food for people in calamity disaster centers as well as soldiers in combat missions. Normally, people in disaster centers are provided with canned sardines, easy-to-cook noodles, and rice that must still be cooked. Canned rice could be an excellent alternate food.

Dr. Azanza and her team modified the existing canning technology to produce thermal processed rice that suits the needs and taste of Filipinos. The technology has addressed retrogradation in the processing of canned rice products, which earlier became a major setback in the commercial production of these product lines.

The local rice canning technology developed by Dr. Azanza and her team includes pre-canning and final thermal processing. Steaming is used as a pre-canning procedure. This modified technology has a utility model (UM) patent registered at the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines. Its UM protection will expire in 2013.

A licensing agreement between UP Diliman, PhilRice, Dr. Azanza as technological innovator, and Turris Philippines, Inc. as the capital investor for the product has been made already. Although the agreement will end this year, it is expected that it will be renewed again for another three years.

After two years of pilot scale processing, Turris Philippines, Inc. has already identified two production sites for the processing of canned rice – UP Diliman and Cebu.

Dr. Azanza is currently involved in the upscale production and technical sales of the canned rice products. The products have already been promoted to several of its intended markets including the military groups and the Department of Social Welfare and Development. The products will also be presented to the Philippine National Red Cross soon. – Sosimo Ma. Pablico