AFICNews - November 2004

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AFICNews - November 2004

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Welcome to the November 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

Dates	Events
November 15-17, 2004	Twenty-second International Meeting of the International Vitamin A Consultative Group (IVACG): Vitamin A and the Common Agenda for Micronutrients–Washington DC, USA http://ivacg.ilsi.org, Email: hni@ilsi.org
December 1, 2004	AFIC- ILSI Focal Point in China, Media Workshop-Shanghai, China Email: info@afic.org
December 16-17, 2004	International Society of Sports Nutrition and Athletes' Performance Conference http://www.sportsnutritionsociety.org, Email: ISSN@sportsnutritionsociety.org;

NEW FROM AFIC

Food Facts Asia Issue 22, November 2004 is now launched and distributed to subscribers. The text versions (English, Chinese, Korean and Thai) and full PDF version are also available on AFIC website. The topics included in this issue are:

· Kick Start Your Day with Breakfast - English, Thai, Chinese or Korean Language

· A Convenient Route to Healthy Eating - English, Thai, Chinese or Korean Language

· Tackling "Diabesity" with a Lifestyle Change - English, Thai, Chinese or Korean Language

For more information or journalist enquiries, email info@afic.org.

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 TOPICS

Food Safety – Microbial (15% of total)

The confirmed presence of avian flu in China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia (also Malaysia, although currently confirmed clear) has sustained high levels of press report and commentary. Much of this has focused on national and international efforts to limit infection amongst animals, and between human and animal populations, but a small but increasing proportion of media coverage has been devoted to issues of food safety. The second most common theme for foodborne illness news reports is mass outbreaks/multiple case foodborne illness incidents. Thus a small increase in reports on recommendations for safe handling of raw meat and eggs, and cooking temperatures to destroy virus is detectable. A small proportion of news reports on regulatory food safety initiatives to tackle high levels of food-borne illness and observer/interest group criticisms that too much emphasis is placed by governments on food safety for exported goods, and not enough attention is paid to domestic food safety needs are also evident.

For more information on avian flu and safe handling and consumption of poultry products, click on ‘AFIC Short Briefing Avian Flu and Food Safety’

Biotechnology (11%)

India and Thailand have provided much of this quarter’s media coverage on this issue. India’s efforts to establish robust regulatory framework, and public controversy and debate on proposal to progress Thai policy on agricultural biotechnology prompted a renewed flurry of media interest in the topic, with much emphasis on environmental and intellectual property and economic issues, and less on health and nutrition or ethics criteria.

For more information on food biotechnology and health, click on ‘Food Biotechnology – An Old and a New Science’

Overweight/Obesity/Weight Control (9%)

A recent increase in availability of statistics from multiple sources, including market research agency AC Nielsen, 2002 China nutrition survey, and IOTF has provided new story angles for media coverage. Common sub-themes of features and news reports on this issue were lack of success of so many who are trying to lose weight; the availability and popularity of energy-dense foods; low glycaemic load and high dietary fibre diets for weight loss and prevention of weight gain; corporate initiatives to support weight management; the close association between weight gain and increasing number of cases of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. An increased interest from media in de-bunking myths and miracle cure claims was also apparent.

For more information on Type 2 diabetes, click on ‘Tackling Diabesity with a Lifestyle Change’

Healthy Eating/Lifestyles (9%)

Many stories on this issue focused on ‘westernisation’ of Asian diets and the dietary composition of western fast foods, and little attention to rising fat content of diets based on more traditional Asian foods. The impact of changing eating patterns also provided focus for some stories, for example, the negative impact on personal weight control of missing breakfast, and more frequent eating outside the home. An increasing number of features and reports have highlighted continued high prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies and public health policy activities and proposals to address this. Related to this, more focus on the role of fortified foods and supplementation in addressing inadequate nutrition, along with other forms of intervention was apparent.

For more information on this topic, click on ‘Kick Start Your Day with Breakfast’ also ‘A Convenient Route to Healthy Eating’

Children’s Diets & Health (6%)

Reporting of rising numbers of overweight and obese children in the region continued along with the public health implications of this. The two most common sub-themes on the issue of childhood overweight/obesity were sedentary lifestyles and TV viewing time; also public debate on the role of schools in prevention of childhood overweight - for example homework pressure, school meals provisions and policy on food and drinks sold in school. Concerns over marketing/advertising were also a sub-theme in regional media but did not receive the same level of intense interest apparent in other parts of the world. Raised levels of interest in levels of micronutrient deficiencies amongst children, especially iodine and iron deficiencies, and their impact on development and health status continued to grow, with significant coverage of the policy debate related to this.

For more information on children’s health and micronutrient deficiencies, click on ‘Lacking Concentration – Maybe its Lack of Iron’

Heart Disease/Cholesterol/Fats (6%)

This is topic in which public interest is growing, fuelled by many factors, but including expert commentary on implications for public health resources, World Heart Federation activity and World Health Organisation efforts. Media has highlighted some causes especially tobacco use, overweight/obesity, lack of physical activity and changing dietary patterns, especially salt, cholesterol and total fat content of diets. Some interest in positive dietary modifications (especially soy protein and omega-3 fats) and lifestyle factors helpful in reducing risk were also apparent but not well developed.

For more information on heart disease and modifiable dietary factors, click on ‘Beating Cardiovascular Disease and Enjoying Life’

BSE/Mad Cow Disease (6%)

Coverage on this issue was sustained by concerns over potentially contaminated blood products exported from the UK; release of research results on prions; Japan’s policy debate on testing requirements (now set at only animals over 21 months of age) and US negotiations to re-establish beef trade (agreement now reached on resumption of trade for animals less than 21 months of age). S Korea and Taiwan are expected to resume beef trading in 2004, and this may or may not generate further interest.

For more information on this topic, click on recently revised and updated ‘AFIC Short Briefing on BSE’

Infant Feeding (5%)

WHO Breast Feeding Week and national initiatives in support of this provided boost to recent media coverage on this topic. Chinese media continued to follow the story of fake infant formula and prosecution of those responsible; a small amount of media interest in other countries was also tracked. Proposals in Thailand to discourage common practice of adding sugar to infant formula because children’s dental caries rates are very high resulted in limited media pick-up. For more information on children’s dental health, click on ‘Nutrition and Oral Health – Making the Connection’

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

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* Permission is granted to media, health and education professionals to use AFIC information resources in part or in full, providing credit is given to its source and AFIC is informed of its use by emailing info@afic.org.
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