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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.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

NEW FROM AFIC

Please click here to check out AFIC’s latest publication, ‘What You Should Know about Dietary Salt, Sodium & Health’. The PDF (English) version is also available on www.afic.org. To receive a hard copy, please contact info@afic.org.   

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

Asia Media Coverage on Food and Health Topics in Q1-2006 and Q4-2005

(Q1-2006: February-April 2006 and Q4-2005: November 2005-January 2006)

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 FREQUENTLY REPORTED FOOD-HEALTH TOPICS, 2006

Biotechnology (9% of total scanned media coverage)

First quarter coverage of 9% recorded a 1% increase from the fourth quarter of 2005, primarily covering a range of continuing issues related to plant biotechnology, including coverage of WTO ruling on the US-EU Genetically Modified (GM) crops trade rules, the discussions at the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety MOP8 meeting held in Brazil, and incidents in China where Greenpeace accused a food company of selling products containing non-approved GM rice. The allegations turned out to be baseless as verified by independent scientific assessments and endorsement from safety authority. To read more about the “New Technology Twists for Some Favourite Staples”, please follow the appropriate links in English, ภาษาไทย, 中文, or 한글.

Food Safety – Chemical (9% of total scanned media coverage)

Current public concern over food adulteration boosted coverage on this issue in during the first quarter of 2006, ranging from news about the use of formaldehyde in Indonesia, dioxin in Dutch pork (which resulted in some Asian countries restricting imports), metal contaminants in baby products in South Korea, and borax in food products found in China, Korea and Malaysia. For more information about “Traceability Technology: A Boost for Food Safety” please follow the appropriate link in English, ภาษาไทย, or 中文.

Food Safety - Microbial (8% of total scanned media coverage)

Recording a slight decrease from the previous quarter, reporting of food poisoning cases remains prevalent in China and Hong Kong, in particular around the Lunar New Year period. A large scale Botulism food poisoning incident in Thailand was also widely reported. For more information about “Preventing Food-Borne Illness from Farm to Plate”, please click here.

Healthy Eating / Lifestyles (19% of total scanned media coverage)

The US Women’s Health Initiative which was unable to establish that low fat diet did improve cancer and heart disease health risk odds within the sample population triggered a spate of commentary and media reports in the region, with common theme that scientists’ dietary advice is not credible. There was also some coverage on how little is being done to tackle Asia's biggest killers such as cancer, diabetes and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases (compared to current hot topics like bird flu). Agencies like GAIN and UNICEF are making some effort to raise awareness of micronutrient deficiencies in the region. To learn more about how to frame scientific research and results in everyday context, please refer to “Science is Evolutionary, not Revolutionary” in English, ภาษาไทย or 中文.

Heart Disease / Cholesterol / Fats (6% of total scanned media coverage)

This remains a topic attracting a significant amount of coverage, with reporting ranging from self-help advice features to coverage of national and regional campaigns, and also educational articles on types of fats and cholesterol sources in the diets. There were also some articles focusing on the CVD statistics in countries around the region. For more information about “Talking Food and Health”, please follow the links for English, ภาษาไทย, 中文, or 한글 information resource.

Overweight / Obesity / Weight Control (5% of total scanned media coverage)

Main stories covered in the first quarter of 2006 include the discovery of the first common genetic mutation to be linked to excessive weight, which scientists hope will lead to treatments to tackle obesity; American CDC’s statement that obesity is confirmed to be the cause of a rising diabetes epidemic; as well as research data suggesting women with central obesity are at increased risk for developing colon cancer. To read more about “Eating Out Of Home, Weight Management and How We Make Food Choice”, please follow the links in English, ภาษาไทย, or 中文.

Zoonotic Diseases & Animal Health (17% of total scanned media coverage)

Coverage on AI focused most on the rising number of human fatalities, which exceeded the one hundred mark in the first quarter of 2006. There was also substantial coverage on preparedness of countries against an impending AI pandemic, and the spread of AI worldwide. On other fronts, ongoing talks about resuming US beef imports to various Asian countries was well documented, as is the few occurrences of BSE in cows in Japan. Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) also made headlines in the first quarter of 2006 with significant concern in Singapore and Malaysia where interest spiked when schools were closed to prevent spread of the virus, and to suppress the number of victims/ infections. For more information about food safety and bird flu, please see AFIC’s Short Briefing on Avian Influenza and Food Safety in English, ภาษาไทย or 中文.