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Welcome to the March 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

AFIC flagship publication, Food Facts Asia, issue 32 is launched and distributed to subscribers. The topics included in this issues are:

• The Secrets to a Longer Life - English, ภาษาไทย or 中文

• Diet and Cancer - What's New? - English or ภาษาไทย or 中文

• Obesity - Is HFCS to Blame? English or ภาษาไทย or 中文

• NewsBites - English or ภาษาไทย or 中文

• Entire Issue - (PDF)

Food in the News:

Comparison of Media Coverage of Food Safety and Nutrition Issues Year 2007 vs 2006

Note: These figures are based on simple counting method of topic headings and do not allow for

differences in length or depth of articles.

Comments on Most Frequently Reported Topics

Zoonotic Disease & Animal Health (30% of total coverage)

Avian flu was also in 2007 as the most common zoonotic concern, following the 2006 trend. Most of the tracked articles, reported the many outbreaks in several countries in the region despite preventive measures. Media also focuses on the human cases of avian flu, leading to several deaths. The WHO bird flu tracking system indicates 59 people died in 2007 following contamination with the H5N1 virus, the majority of the victims are monitored in Asia, counting 49 deaths. Food safety considerations, addressing consumer concerns in relation to the safe consumption of chicken and eggs, were a minor focus of the tracked articles. Read the essential hygiene tips that AFIC recommends to consumers when dealing with poultry products: A Road Map for Safe Eating During Bird Flu in English, ภาษาไทย or 中文

Food Safety-Chemical (11% of total coverage)

The increased regional media coverage in 2007 compared to 2006 is linked with the number of food safety scares recorded in China. Internationally and regionally negative perceptions of Chinese food exports have been amplified by many press reports. Beijing did show to be taking its responsibilities seriously and launched several efforts to tackle sub-standard production and to guarantee the safety of food products and ingredients coming out of China.

Additional media focus has been on consumer campaigns, warning for health issues related to the use of additives in processed foods; antibiotic residues in US meat products; concerns over bisphenol A, a phthalate, used in plastic containers; lung disease in factory workers caused by the flavouring agent diacetyl; the presence of banned substances in food products and pesticide residues in fresh produce. Allegations of campaign groups on the risks of chemical components that are approved safe for use unnecessarily increase levels of public alarm and take public attention away from major quantifiable food safety risk for human health. As stated by a WHO senior representative, during the International Symposium on Food Safety and Nutrition Communications organized by AFIC in Bangkok “People often worry about aspects of food that don’t pose a threat to their health, such as the addition of allowed food additives to processed products. But major food safety problems in Asia, include the intentional contamination of foodstuffs such as the addition of prohibited substances to foods to mask poor quality”. AFIC is active in promoting science based risk communication on food safety issues in the region. In response to the recurrent food safety issues in relation to pesticide residues and veterinary drug residues highlighted in the regional press, AFIC recommends the following short briefings for clarification: Short Briefing on Pesticides and Food Safety in English, ภาษาไทย or 中文 and Short Briefing on Veterinary Drug Use in Farming

Healthy Eating & Lifestyle (9% of total coverage)

The increased prevalence of non-communicable diseases which are diet and lifestyle related makes this a broadly covered topic. While the debate on diet-types and their health impact continues, leaving consumers confused about what advice to follow, science- based dietary guidelines promoted by professional organizations are consistent and include recommendations on calorie intake, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, reducing sugar and saturated fat, and emphasising plant oils. The importance of physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle gets more emphasis. Accordingly governments take actions to promoting healthy lifestyles.  The World Health Organization (WHO) together with the Chinese authorities introduced a new health promotional campaign on health benefits of food safety, healthy diets and appropriate physical activities in connection to the 2008 Beijing Olympics Games. For more info click on The 3 Fives campaign for the Olympic Games.

Biotechnology (7% of total coverage)

The two main drivers for media coverage on this topic remain regulatory progress for research and development, cultivation and consumption of food biotechnology foods and anti-GM campaigns by various activist groups. With the first GM food crop close to commercialisation in the region - India approved Bt brinjal and plans commercialisation of the pest-resistant eggplant in 2009 - more consumer backlash is to be expected. Rising food prices are also leading to growing calls for increased consumption of genetically modified foods. Consumer educational campaigns to inform consumers about the benefits of genetically modified crops/foods and to avoid misconceptions about the safety of biotech foods are important. To learn more about food biotechnology, click Introduction to Biotechnology: A beginner's Guide for AFIC’s animated video.

Children’s diet & Health (6% of total coverage)

Media highlights the issue of increasing obesity and diabetes rates among children putting them at a growing risk for other chronic non-communicable diseases later in adulthood. In line with the efforts undertaken to promote healthy eating habits among adults, governments and public health authorities address the issue by setting up campaigns in order to educate children about eating a well-balanced diet as an effective means to overcome these diet-related problems. In the wake of the growing obesity levels among the youth, the influence of advertising on children dietary habits receives high levels of media interest. Consumer groups in many countries call for restrictions and more government control in advertising junk food to children. AFIC develops education leaflets and publishes articles to help the promotion of healthy eating guidelines for children and their parents. For AFIC’s latest article, click ‘Raising Brighter Kids with Good Nutrition’ in English, ภาษาไทย or 中文, for the brochure ‘Healthy lifestyles for kids’ click Children FAQs, Parents FAQs

Food Safety-Microbial (6% of total coverage)

The media largely covers mass food poisoning cases caused by failing hygiene standards in restaurants, schools and other mass eating occasions. Less reported but nevertheless a major cause of illness in the region are food borne outbreaks due to unhygienic preparation of food at home. To help raise and standardise food hygiene and food safety, the farm to fork approach for food safety is vital. Because contamination can occur anywhere along the chain from the farm to the table, education campaigns and regulations should target food safety issues along the entire food production chain--from production to consumption. AFIC is active in promoting integrated food safety guidelines to reduce the negative impact of food borne diseases, with special attention to consumer education on food hygiene at home. For AFIC’s outreach materials on ‘Preventing Food-Borne Illness From Farm to Plate Highlights of Best Practice’ click Entire issue or Food safety in the home.

Obesity (5% of total coverage)

Media highlights the increased obesity prevalence rate in many countries in the region and the risk of being overweight or obese in developing a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Obesity is a major public health threat globally and strategies on how to tackle obesity are widely discussed. Although increasing awareness that obesity is the result of a variety of factors, the fundamental cause of obesity and overweight is an energy imbalance between calories consumed on one hand, and calories expended on the other hand. Key elements in the proposed strategies, are, therefore focusing on diet and physical activity. For AFIC’s educational material on the energy content of foods click ‘Are All Calories Equal?’ in English, ภาษาไทย or 中文 . Nutrition labeling as a means to promote healthier food choices in a fight against obesity is another heavily debated topic, regionally and globally. AFIC has been researching how consumers may benefit from better understanding of nutrient and energy content of foods and continue educational campaigns to maximize the impact of nutrition label information by teaching consumers how to read labels. For the latest research information from a survey conducted by AFIC in Thailand, please read ‘Press Release-Freshness and value most important for grocery shoppers in Bangkok’ in English, ภาษาไทย.