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Welcome to the June 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.

Most Frequently Reported Food Safety and Nutrition Topics

in Daily Press and Newswires Around the Asia Region

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 NUTRITION AND FOOD SAFETY ISSUES

Food Safety  - Microbial, including Avian Flu  (21%of total scanned media coverage) Ever stronger messaging from inter-governmental such as OIE and WHO on the risks of avian flu precipitating a pandemic of human flu sustains strong public awareness of this issue. Outputs from the various activities to address the risk, such as recent regional conference in Viet Nam, and statement from WHO officials that there is >50% risk of H5NI flu virus mutating to variant easily transmissible between humans also maintain public focus on the issue. Further outbreaks of H5NI flu virus in chickens, wild fowl and pigs in various countries including N Korea, Indonesia, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Laos indicate very established presence of the virus. There are indications that although there is some improvement in public understanding that risk of contracting avian flu from poultry products is low, this coupled with BSE and SARS has eroded public confidence in food safety of animal products, and needs to be addressed with some urgency.   

BSE  (17% of total scanned media coverage) – The apparent rise in media coverage on BSE is largely due to great deal of media interest in the continuing trade talks between the US and Korea, Japan and Taiwan (note- Taiwan lifted its ban during this period) on resumption of US beef imports, and therefore not strictly food safety. However, the extended focus undermines consumer confidence in food safety standards and monitoring. Confirmation of cases of BSE in cattle, TSEs in goats and sheep, nvCJD in humans also serve to maintain interest in the scientific debate on relative risk, appropriate monitoring and precautionary measures. Recent announcement of from OIE on streamlining of its risk analysis procedures has shifted focus on to the role and effectiveness of this and other inter-governmental organizations in their handling of the risk and the issue and may lead to further negative impact on public confidence in coming months. 

Biotechnology (8% of total scanned media coverage) – Drivers for this issue are about 70% regulatory/scientific initiatives and 30% anti-biotech activist efforts. Public and media interest this year may focus on the much anticipated approval of Bt rice in China. 

Food Safety-chemical (8% of total scanned media coverage) - Significant rise in press interest in this issue, driven principally by 2 issues – detection of illegal red dyes (Sudan red and para red in chili powder and turmeric) in food products, leading to major recalls of food items in UK and China. The tragic death of a number of children in the Philippines and severe illness of many more following consumption of cassava snacks which were found to be contaminated with pesticides has also been an important focus of interest.  

Overweight/Obesity (7% of total scanned media coverage) – A small increase in press interest compared to Q4-2004, and a significant increase in the proportion of press reports which were unbalanced and/or misleading. Debate and initiatives amongst both Asian and international scientific communities have been a significant trigger – including the US CDC multiple, apparently contradictory statements on relative risk of overweight; Singapore’s announcement that BMI cut-offs for overweight would be lowered to 23 for overweight and 27 for obesity; the announcement of a number of studies linking overweight/obesity to cancer, heart disease, abnormal blood lipids and breasts cancer also raised interest. There is steady interest, mainly positive interest in initiatives of food manufacturers and fast food restaurant chains to offer more healthful products and in other activities intended to promote health and wellness. References to the role of physical activity in weight management and reducing risk of diseases associated with overweight/obesity are becoming common. 

Healthy Lifestyles/Diets (6% of total scanned media coverage)

A shift away from generalized health and wellness reports, compared to Q4-2004, to more news reports focusing on overweight, and heart disease were responsible for the fall in media coverage. The US launch of its revised guidelines and ‘My Pyramid’ resource generated a little interest, and a number of corporate initiatives to promote healthy lifestyles also generated press interest.

Pesticides (5% of total scanned media coverage)

Small rise illustrated by charts does not fully reflect media focus on pesticides during this quarter, as many of the news reports on the cassva poisoning incident in Philippines were classified under food safety chemical because of time delay in confirmation of cause.

The incident highlights the vital importance of following advice to store pesticides only in clearly labelled non-food containers, and to keep all such containers in secure, locked storage area, well away from any food preparation, animals or children.

Fats/Cholesterol/Heart Disease (5% of total scanned media coverage) – Factors driving public interest in this issue were release of national data on prevalence of heart disease, metabolic syndrome and dyslipidaemias; and  a small but perceptible rise in interest in the issue of trans fats, especially in Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong and Thailand. Interest in trans fats is likely to grow when the mandatory labeling of trans fats in packaged goods is implemented in the US in 2006. Currently however, the debate focuses more on the link between ‘good’, monounsaturated fats, and ‘bad’ saturated fats. Research which evaluated the Mediterranean diet very positively protective against heart disease and research examining the role of the tocopherol/vitamin E family has also impacted public perception and media interest. 

Children’s Diets and Health (5% of total scanned media coverage) – A shift of focus away from micronutrient deficiencies and stunting was apparent, with the exception of iodine, which was the subject of a number of public health statements, initiatives and priorities and subsequent press coverage (especially Philippines, India, Afghanistan and Malaysia). There was a renewal of interest in children’s obesity and associated ill-health, for example launch of the result of study by All India Institute of Medicine on rising rates of overweight, sedentary behaviour’s and abnormal blood glucose and lipid levels. There was also considerable focus on the debate in the US and Europe on appropriate marketing practice and advertising targeting children, and of food and beverage sales in schools.