35% of the blood donors are not satisfied with the products included in the food package intended for them, according to a poll conducted by the National Blood Transfusion Center. Therefore, Minister of Health Ruxanda Glavan suggested that the content of the given package should be modified. For the purpose, there was created a working group that will identify more suitable products for recovery, IPN has learned from the Ministry of Health.

Currently, the food package contains apple and grape juice, poultry pâté, sardines in oil and condensed milk. These products enable the donors to obtain the necessary quantity of nutrients for recovering the donated blood. The problem is that a part of these products, such as the pâté and sardines in oil, are not healthy.

University professor Alexei Chirlici, who is a member of the working group, said the pâté should be replaced, preferably with beef, which is a source rich in iron and proteins. Also, the sardines in oil should be excluded as they are very fatty and are harmful.

The blood donors have received food packages to the value of 50 lei apiece since 2009. The products are bought by public bidding contests staged by the National Blood Transfusion Center.

More than 79,000 blood donations were made in Moldova last year.