Dates for Your Diary
- February 26-27, 2010- International Conference on Biotechnology, Food and Bioengineering - Emerging Trends and Future Prospects, Tamil, Nadu, India
- March 18-19, 2010 - Food Safety and Sustainability Forum, Sydney, Australia
- March 19-21, 2010 - CINHOE 2010 The 8th China Nutrient&Healthy Food and Organic Products (Guangzhou) Exhibition, Guangzhou, China
- March 23-25, 2010 - Food Ingredients China 2010, Shanghai, China
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New from AFIC
New Food Fact Asia issue 37, December 2009 - February 2010. There are interesting article as follow:
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Glycemic Index of Foods & Its Health Implications:
Most Asians eat a healthy diet. However, it may be surprising to learn that there is an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease and weight gain. This article provide a summary of the new scientific evidence of what is known as a low-Glycemic Index diet and learn on how the body breaks these different types of carbohydrates down.
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Food Security in Asia
The estimate by FAO showed that 642 million people in Asia and the Pacific were undernourished in 2009. This article provides the summary from FAO conference paper and World Secure Food Chain Asia meeting 2009.
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Nutrients and Bioactives : Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation in Asia
Nutrition and health claims on food labels can be a useful public health tool, for the promotion of nutrition awareness. This article provides an overview of the regulatory status of nutrition and health claims for nutrients and bioactive compounds in selected countries in the Asian region.
To read entire issue please click here.
Food in the news: Most Frequently reported Food Safety and Nutrition Topic in Daily Press and Newswire around the Asian Region August – October 2009 (Q3 ) Compared to November - January 2010 (Q4)
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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
Healthy Eating & Lifestyles ( 20% of total coverage)
Healthy eating/Lifestyle remained the most frequent news reports in AFIC’s tracking. India provided more than 60% of the news coverage in this category. During the festive seasons, many countries reported on healthy tips for eating during party times such as how to maintain weight during Christmas.
News in this category provided various types of food guidelines for better health with most along the lines of eating more fruit and vegetables and eating varieties of them in order to gain different health benefits. Many articles pointed out that some foods considered as junk food can also be good for your health such as home-made popcorn. Many articles suggested that readers should change their lifestyle by starting to exercise and changing their eating behaviors. One important part of a healthy lifestyle that reporters often mention is to start your day with a good breakfast.
Some articles in various countries mentioned the need to get enough sleep and others discussed reports that a sedentary lifestyle may boost risk even if one exercises regularly. Reporters in Malaysia and India suggested healthy tips for the elderly including eating small protions, low in fat and sodium and high in fibre and calcium.
AFIC has written an article on ‘It's a Small World After All - Dietary Guidelines Around the World’ (in Eng or ภาษาไทย), which discusses dietary guidelines in various Asian countries and throughout the rest of the world..The guidelines are suggestions for people to follow based on nutritional needs, food supplies, eating habits and cultural beliefs. We found the guidelines are still useful and up to date for all readers.
Furthermore, In order to live life to the fullest and enjoy well-earned retirement, good health is a great asset and one that deserves a little regular attention. AFIC likes to introduce ‘A recipe for better health in the golden years’ (in Eng, ภาษาไทย or 中文) article which can be used in every household, it’s never too late and never too early to start to changing habits and enjoy the benefits. A little advance planning will surely only increase the joy of long and healthy Golden Years.
Food Labelling/ Regulations/ Traceability (14% of total coverage)
Food regulations become the 2nd popular media report in the region. Media around the region have shown their interest in presenting updated incidents of food safety issues and new regulations from around the world to their audience.
Chinese news reporters have been especially interested in presenting updated food safety issues and regulation from around the region. Chinese media have picked up the story of food safety laws on beef imported being lifted in the Philippines, fast food regulations in Malaysia as well as updates on the new risk assessment procedures for food safety in their country. India news reporters mostly focused on their domestic news issues including new safety regulation on food processing and new health claims made on labels of probiotics products. Taiwan’s new regulations on beef importation have been presented in numerous articles in various countries and it has been the main issue in Taiwan’s news reports in our tracking this quarter. Additionally, Taiwan has introduced a new regulation aimed to facilitate women breastfeeding in public. South Korean news reports also mainly concerned updates on the issue of beef imports from the U.S.. Australia and New Zealand reported on their agreement to review food labeling law and policy. Furthermore, media in Australia paid attention to regulations on children advertising.
Biotechnology (10%of total coverage)
Biotechnology reporting this quarter is increased from 7% in Q3, due to news of Bt brinjal in India and the lifting of some state bans on GM crops in Australia.
The news in India have reported on the government process to allow Bt Brinjal to be planted. The central government has requested stakeholders including academics to provide their opinions on the release. Various Indian media presented fair stories from both sides. Some newspapers reported on the movement from protestors against the Bt Brinjal, while some reported on those who favored the approval. The news on the Bt Brinjal will be followed up closely by reporters as the government decision will be announced very soon.
Australia reported on the proposal to lift the ban on GM canola in Western Australia. Again, similar to India, there are pressures on the government from supporters and opponents of lifting the ban on GM crops. News reported views that laws governing the cultivation of GM crops in WA should not change but should provide the community consideration on the location. Some opponents felt that allowing GM canola to be planted in WA will put export industry at risk.
Regional news reported on the approval of a strain GM rice in China and field trail GM sugarcane in Australia. Interestingly, in contrast to all the stories around Bt brinjal in India, AFIC has not found any news stories about the approval of Bt rice in China other than those that first reported it.
AFIC conducted a study on the perceptions of consumers in Asia toward food biotechnology in 2008. The purpose was designed to get a better understanding of the Asian consumer’s attitudes towards the safety of the food supply and food labeling. The study investigated consumer concerns related to food biotechnology, and tested their understanding and acceptance of benefits that might be provided by biotechnology. To learn more about the study, please click to ‘How do consumers in Asia feel about Biotech food?’ (in Eng, ภาษาไทย or 中文).
Overweight/ Obesity/ Weight Control (7% of total coverage)
Overweight has become a serious health problem in Asia. Media in the region have reported on new studies on the impact of overweight on health to create awareness and to encourage readers to improve their health. A news report in Taiwan mentioned that obesity is one of 5 major health factors named by WHO as being responsible for premature deaths, while regional news reported on a U.S. study claiming that obesity causes 100,000 cancers every year.
Local media in various countries reported on the obesity situation in their country. Korea reported that one-third of Korean adults are overweight, while Australia reported that one in three girls in Australia is overweight and Taiwan reported that the ratio of obese children in their country has risen from 6% to 25% in ten years.
AFIC has brought together a complete collection of information resources which are intended to aid understanding of body weight management, and help individuals decide on the best personal strategy to manage their own individual body weight and achieve their individual health goals. For an overview of this new resource, and how to access the right information quickly, click to ‘What You Should Know about Weight Management’ (English only).
Exercise/Physical Activity & Diet (6% of total coverage)
Most of the news in tracked records reported on the benefit of exercise and introduced simple exercise techniques so as to encourage their reader to begin to exercise. Media in some countries reported on the benefit of exercise in reducing prostate cancer. Most news reports suggested that exercise will help strengthen muscle and reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in older people.
AFIC like to introduce ‘Calorie expenditure calculator’ (English only). The worksheet enables you to work out your calorie expenditure during a typical day by inputting a time value (min) for each daily activity or to calculate the calorie expenditure for a defined period for time across all activities.
Children’s Diet & Health (5% of total coverage)
News from tracked records presented in 7 countries mentioned that 9 out of 10 parents surveyed still consider malnutrition as a primary threat to the physical health of the underaged. News reported on UN data showed that most of the world’s chronically undernourished under five, including 83 million children in South Asia. The Philippines reported that three out of 10 children in that country under the age of five suffered from stunted growth, similar to Vietnam.
On the other hand, many news reports on children’s lifestyles dealt with lack of exercise creating problems with osteoarthritis and obesity. Australia news reports encourage children to have a balanced diet, eat a healthy breakfast and exercise.
In Asia there is an underlying story that may not be getting sufficient attention and that is whether there will be enough food at all. The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has been working hard to understand the magnitude of this problem and how to solve it. AFIC provided summary of the FAO conference paper as well as from a presentation to the World Secure Food Chain Asia meeting. Please click to ‘Food Security in Asia’ (English only). 
