December 1998

Alternative Diet

Does healthy food help?

By Linda Leung

     As people in Hong Kong enjoy higher living standards, filling up their stomachs is not the only aim of consuming food. They pay more attention on nutritional values. Hence health food made in herbal and floral extracts and in the form of nutrient supplements is gaining popularity.

     The owner of WYK Vegetarian Shop, Mr. Leung, who wanted his given name withheld, ran a shop to promote the importance of natural and organic food in Hong Kong.

     According to Mr. Leung, health food is of great nutritional value.

     Mr. Leung said, "Health food helps to strengthen the immune system, lessen the risk of contracting cold and flu, as well as refreshing our minds."

     There are various reasons why consumers opted for health food.

     Miss Amanda Lam, 19, a Year 1 radiography student at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, consumed different kinds of healthy food for interest.

     Said she: "But I don't think this kind of food is essential to one's health. I have a balanced diet, so I need not depend on these products."

     Miss Mimi Lee, also 19, a Year 1 higher diploma student of Building Service and Engineering at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, found that healthy food has a positive effect on her.

     "I have been suffering from allergies for many years. Eating healthy foods gives me great relief. However, if I stop taking it, the discomforts return," said Miss Lee.

     In 1997, the Consumer Council received 23 complaints about the efficacy of healthy foods. Yet there were already 38 in the first nine months of this year.

     Ms Vivian Tsung, research and survey officer of the Consumer Council, said that the Council had conducted several surveys on the efficacy of healthy food products as well as the medical claims about them. The result was that some healthy foods have misleading information on their pamphlets.

     The problem stemmed from a loophole in the existing Undesirable Medical Advertisements Ordinance.

     According to the Ordinance, pamphlets inserted into packages are not regarded as advertisements. In other words, the information will not be scrutinized by the Ordinance.

     A spokesperson of the Health and Welfare Bureau said the Government was then investigating the matter.

     "No further comment can be made at this moment," said the spokesperson.

     Dr. Georgia S. Guldan, an associate professor in the Food and Nutritional Sciences Programme of the Department of Biochemistry at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, said there was no need for local people to consume healthy food products.

     Said she: "There is evidence that some of them may help. But people can get the same benefits by having balanced diets and getting enough exercise.

     "I think healthy food manufacturers can have such a grand time here because people in Hong Kong do not know much about nutrition. As a result, the manufacturers can easily frighten people.

     "Besides, there is no strict laws governing food labeling. Therefore, people should not always believe what the labels said."

     Dr. Guldan believed people should educate themselves, by observing the food pyramid and by consulting dietitians when they have questions about nutrition.

     For those who want to consume healthy food products, the Consumer Council offered some advice.

     "Before spending money on health food, be aware of their compositions and nutrient contents. Pay extra attention on whether the labels have any claims on laboratory studies and whether these claims are backed up by scientific evidence," said Ms Tsung.