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t_Articles
Welcome
to the October 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
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info@afic.org with your request to subscribe or unsubscribe, and we
can do the rest.
DATES
FOR YOUR DIARY
NEW
FROM AFIC
AFIC is now able to
provide some of its current information resources in Korean language.
For more information
or journalist enquiries, email
info@afic.org.
Most
Frequently Reported Food Safety and Nutrition News in Taiwan Magazines
N ote:
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
Supplements
(24%)
Supplements are
frequently a popular topic in Asia’s magazines, and in this survey,
supplements were the most common subject featured. Articles logged in
this survey stressed the importance of using supplements prudently. For
example advice included following manufacturers’ recommendations, and
ensuring that total intake of essential nutrients, such as vitamins and
minerals remained within recommended safe upper limits. Magazine survey
also scanned information on antioxidants, and the emerging evidence of
their potential health benefits.
For more information
on this topic, click on ‘Herbs-
The Jury’s Still Out’
Biotechnology
(15%)
Articles surveyed
offered commentary on the impact of biotechnology on Taiwanese
agriculture, the potential benefits of biotechnology to food supply and
the food industry in Taiwan. Articles provided some
description/definition of biotechnology, which readers may find very
useful - many surveys, included AFIC’s own consumer 2002 and 2003
consumer perception surveys find that lack of personal knowledge and
understanding of what biotechnology is a major challenge. Many lay
persons are keen to know more about the application of biotechnology and
its potential benefits, but find it difficult to access factual
information.
For more information
on this topics, click on ‘Consumers
in Asia Remain Open-Minded on Food Biotechnology’.
Also ‘Biotechnology
– Myths and Facts’
Food
Safety (15%)
Food safety is a
concern for many consumers in Asia, and articles picked up in this
survey, not only highlighted the nature of the concerns, that is how to
determine which foods are safe, but also the significant challenges in
accessing reliable information on food safety and risk. AFIC consumer
surveys confirm that many consumers have concerns about food safety, but
are unsure where to turn for this information. Media is the most common
source of information, and this survey noted an article which
specifically addressed the challenges of media reporting of accurate and
balanced information on food safety concerns. This is a recurring issue
for consumers, and yet a relatively uncommon subject area for media
features.
More information on
this theme can be found, at ‘How
Safe is Our Food?’
Also
‘Science
is Evolutionary, not Revolutionary’
F unctional
Foods (15%)
The demand for foods
which include ingredients thought to offer both essential nutrients and
additional health benefits continues to grow in the region, and
therefore small wonder that this topic is usually found in the top five
subject areas of AFIC’s magazine surveys. Traditional foods of Asia,
such as soybeans and green tea dominated the subject area.
For more information
on this topic, click on ‘Soy – A Traditional Food of Asia with an
Important Role in Future Health’ (English,
Chinese,
Korean or
Thai)
Also for more
information on the specific topic of nutrient- enriched or ‘fortified
foods’ click on recent AFIC article, ‘Fortifying against the Hidden
Hunger’ (English,
Thai or
Chinese)
Healthy
Eating/Lifestyle
(154%)
As the number of
cases of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cancer
and other chronic degenerative disease rise, so too does mass media
interest in this issue. The critical role of diet and an active
lifestyle in the prevention of chronic disease is now well recognized
and this is reflected both in mass media focus on the issue, and in
public health debate in the region. Articles noted in this survey
directly addressed the importance of taking preventive action in
preference to post-hoc therapeutic approaches, provided dietary advice
(an absence of advice or commentary on the role of physical activity
was - noteworthy), and also highlighted the importance of sensible
approaches to weight control and the risks of eating disorders.
For recently released information from AFIC related to these topics,
please click on ‘One Size Doesn’t Fit All’ (English,
Thai or Chinese)
and ‘Eating out the Healthier Way’ (English,
Thai or
Chinese)
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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