Welcome
to the February edition of AFICNews.
AFICNews is a free
monthly e-bulletin, providing updates on current food safety, health and
nutrition news trends around the Asia Pacific region. If you are not
already subscribed, but would like your own monthly copy, please send a
blank email to
aficnews-subscribe@afic.org . If you
do not wish to receive AFICNews, simply send a blank email to
aficnews-unsubscribe@afic.org, and your name and address will be
automatically removed from the list. In case of difficulties email
info@afic.org with your request to subscribe or unsubscribe, and we
can do the rest.
DATES
FOR YOUR DIARY
NEW
FROM AFIC
Recent food-health news reporting has been dominated by avian flu; efforts in China to
limit risk of SARS infection being transmitted from civet cats to
humans; and BSE. Short Briefings on
BSE and SARS in relation to food hygiene can be found on the AFIC
website. A Briefing on avian flu will also be posted shortly. For more
information or journalist enquiries, email
info@afic.org.
AFIC/NSM Journalist
Workshop on ‘Where Nutrition is Headed in 2004’ will be held at the
Nikko Hotel, Kuala Lumpur on February 10th. Email
info@afic.org for further details.
MOST Frequently Reported
Food Safety and Nutrition News in Thailand Magazines
Note: These figures
are based on simple counting method of topic headings and do not allow
for differences in length or depth of feature articles.
COMMENTS
ON MOST POPULAR TOPICS
Functional
Foods
Functional Foods was
the most common topic in AFIC’s 2003 survey, and remains the most
popular food-health topic covered in the Thai lifestyle press this year
also. In 2002 coverage was almost zero, a reflection of how the very
significant growth in interest on this topic. Stories in January 2004
focused mainly on fresh produce (including, sesame seed, broccoli,
avocado, apple, coconut, eggs and fish), plus 2 stories highlighted
benefits and sources of trace minerals - selenium and zinc.
For more information
- The March 2004 issue of Food Facts Asia will include an article on
Fortified Foods
Overweight/Obesity
Overweight/Weight
management in 2002 and 2003 was not a very popular topic, representing
only 6% of
coverage in
magazines surveyed in both years. In 2004, proportion of coverage on
this topic has jumped to 23%. Three stories reported findings of study
by Hu et al on the link between overweight and TV watching time in
women. A summary of this study and reference details were included in
Newsbites of Food Facts Asia #18. Click on
http://www.afic.org/FFA%20Issue%2019%20NewsBites.htm
Other topics featured
in January Thai magazines included tips and strategies to manage weight
and avoid weight gain, a number of articles on weight loss diets, and
one claiming a link between single parenting and overweight.
For more information
– July 2004 issue of Food Facts Asia will include article on weight
management and making sense of healthy weight recommendations.
Diabetes
Previously, this
topic has attracted little interest in Thai magazine press. Its
position, as 3rd most popular topic with 9% of total coverage
reflects increasing interest as the number of Asians diagnosed Type 2
diabetic increases rapidly. Stories featured in January mainly reported
on known risk factors, symptoms and treatment options; one spurious,
misleading report claimed specific foods were the cause. It is estimated
that currently more than 5% of the adult population has diabetes, more
than 8% has the pre-diabetic condition, impaired glucose tolerance, and
these figures are predicted to continue rising unless urgent action is
taken. The International Diabetes Federation urges action to improve
weight management and physical activity levels amongst populations in an
effort to slow, perhaps even reverse this public health trend.
For more information
- visit
www.idf.org, and/or look out for article later this year in Food
Facts Asia on prevention and management of Type 2 diabetes.
Children’s
Diets and Health
Children’s health and
the role of diet in this remains a topic of strong interest in Thai
magazines. Stories included in January magazines include ideas for
healthful lunches boxes, the importance of breakfast, plus a number on
concerns over sugar in Thai children’s diets. AFIC research on
children’s lifestyle preferences and behaviours has found that parents
have a very influential role to play in encouraging long term healthful
habits in their children.
For more information
– March 2004 issue of Food Facts Asia will include article on Raising
Healthy Kids – Some Tips for Parents
Physical
Activity and Diet
This topic was the
3rd most popular topic in Thai magazine articles in 2002 and 2003. In
2004 it holds 5th position, and as in previous years the
theme is most commonly general benefits of regular physical activity,
including better weight management, but with strongest emphasis on
improvements to appearance (eg. regular yoga leading to improvements in
posture), and psychological benefits (such as reducing stress).
For more information
– The March 2004 Issue of Food Facts Asia feature two articles which
include recommendations on establishing the exercise habit for young
and old.
Healthy
Lifestyles and Calcium
Two topics which remain regular features in lifestyle magazines
available in Asia. AFIC has a number of previously published articles on
these topics. Visit
www.afic.org to access.
The
Asian Food information Centre is a not-for profit Singapore-registered
organization
Its
mission is to effectively communicate sound science based information on
food safety, health and nutrition
to the
media and other key audiences in Asia
