Joint Press Release from World Health Organization, Ministry of Health, P.R. China, and Beijing Food Safety Administration
BEIJING, March 10 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The World Health Organization (WHO) together with the Chinese authorities introduced today a new health promotion campaign on health benefits of food safety, healthy diets and appropriate physical activities in connection to the 2008 Beijing Olympics Games.
(Logo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/20061102095006-51.jpg )
'The 3 Fives': Five Keys to Safer Food, Five Keys to a Healthy Diet, Five Keys to Appropriate Physical Activity, primarily provides simple messages on what to consume to stay healthy, how to prepare food safely, and how to keep moving to stay in good shape. It is launched in collaboration with the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), the Chinese Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Beijing Food Safety Administration (BFA).
"By choosing safer food, healthier diets and regular physical activity, everyone can enjoy a healthier life regardless of their age," said Dr Hans Troedsson, WHO China Representative.
Foodborne diseases take a major toll on health. Millions of people fall ill and many die as a result of eating unsafe food, while unhealthy diets and physical inactivity are two of the main risk factors for raised blood pressure, raised blood glucose, overweight/obesity, and for the major chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes.
"Our mission is to protect and promote public health. Health has become a kind of fashion with the steady economic and social development of China," said Mr Yu Jun, Deputy Director of the China's Ministry of Health's Department of Health Supervision.
"The authorities in Beijing care about the wellbeing of the public - not only for residents in Beijing, but also the world, and we have taken concrete actions to promote healthy behaviours that have a long lasting impact on people's wellness," said Mr Zhang Zhikuan, Director of Beijing's Food Safety Administration.
"We would hope to see 'The 3 Fives' campaign move out to the rest of China and to the rest of the world before or after the Games in August," said Dr Jorgen Schlundt, WHO Headquarters' Executive Director of Food Safety Department.
As the Olympic Games express the true excellence of fitness and health, the launch of 'The 3 Fives' in connection with the Beijing Olympics becomes part of the Olympics tradition with national and international implications for public health.
Five Keys to Safer Food:
-- Food handlers should keep hands, surfaces and equipment clean when
handling food;
-- Separating raw and cooked food, especially meat, poultry and seafood;
-- Cook food thoroughly to kill bacteria;
-- Keep food at safe temperatures to avoid bacterial growth;
-- Use safe water and raw materials to avoid bacteria and toxic chemicals.
Five Keys to a Healthy Diet:
-- Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life;
-- People should eat a variety of foods to assure an adequate and balanced
diet;
-- This includes plenty of fruits and vegetables;
-- Moderate intake of fats and oils;
-- Reduced intake of salt and sugars.
Five Keys to Appropriate Physical Activity:
-- Everybody is encouraged to increase their levels of physical activity and
reduce sedentary activities;
-- Be physically active every day in as many ways as you can;
-- Do at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on 5 or
more days each week;
-- If you can, enjoy some regular vigorous-intensity physical activity for
extra health and fitness benefits;
-- School-aged children in particular should engage in at least 60 minutes of
moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity each day.
'The 3 Fives' brochure may be accessed at: http://www.who.int/foodsafety/en
