If there’s one thing you must know about Filipinos, it’s that we really do love to eat! We offer to share our meal, no matter how small or simple it may be. We view food as a gift of grace (“grasya”) that is not to be turned down. Many times, we even catch ourselves doing a “kilig” dance (usually involving the shoulders) when what we are eating is so “saraaaaap!” and pleasing to our taste buds. Indeed, we find joy and great comfort in eating, from mealtime to our beloved “meryenda”.

As a pioneer in the industry, Rebisco recognizes our need to find both comfort and safety in snacking in these trying times.

Mind your #HandEATiquette, please!

In celebration of our love for snacking and the much-needed comfort it brings, Rebisco recognizes March as “Safe Snacking Month” across the Philippines. With the pandemic still raging, it is just as vital today as it was in March 2020, the onset of the global health crisis, to enjoy our snacks with safety in mind.

How do you snack safely? #HandEATiquette is key! Initiated in March last year, at the onset of the pandemic, the campaign emphasizes the role of hand hygiene in safe snacking. One year later, the trusted snack food company continually encourages us to celebrate our love for snacking, with meticulous attention to the cleanliness of our hands. Whether you live in Luzon, Visayas, or Mindanao, safety protocols are as important now as they were one year ago.

When munching on snacks within the home or on the go, Rebisco reminds us to:
Make sure your hands are clean and disinfected. “Dapat bago snacking, ang hands ay linisin!” Wash your hands with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds, and be sure to observe proper hand washing and rubbing techniques, as mandated by the World Health Organization. If soap and water are unavailable, use a 70%-based alcohol disinfectant and rub hands for 20 seconds applying the same technique.

Open the snack pack with your fingers, and not with your mouth. “Ang pack, bawal kagatin, dapat kamay pang-open!” Remember that the virus cells can stay on packaging, so make sure not to put the snack pack anywhere near your mouth area. Better yet, lightly spray some disinfectant on a tissue or paper towel, and wipe down the pack prior to opening.

It’s also good practice to avoid licking your fingers while snacking, no matter how tempting it may be. Remind your hands, too, that if a piece of your snack falls to the floor: Huwag na ‘yan isubo!

Safe snacking: it’s all in the family

Now you know all about safe snacking, but whose responsibility is it, anyway? The answer is simple: Ang pag-iingat, para sa buong pamilya! From Lolo and Lola, Mama and Papa, to Ate, Kuya, and Bunso, we must all do our part to keep the snacking experience safe and healthy. Whether outside or at home, we must always practice #HandEATiquette. After all, the family that snacks safely together stays healthy together.

So, go ahead and reach for your favorite Rebisco snack, whether it’s a pouch of cookies, a bag of biscuits, a pack of peanuts, or a bar of chewy chocolate. Snack safely; it’s all in YOUR hands—literally!

ADVT.