Food Safety In ChinaFood Safety In China

Richard Saint Cyr MDRichard Saint Cyr MD

Group Director of Clinical Marketing & Communications, UFHGroup Director of Clinical Marketing & Communications, UFHFamily Medicine Doctor Family Medicine Doctor –– Beijing United Family Hospital Beijing United Family Hospital

Blog: myhealthbeijing.comBlog: myhealthbeijing.comWeibo: weibo.com/daniudaifuWeibo: weibo.com/daniudaifu

About MeAbout Me Family Medicine doctorFamily Medicine doctor From USAFrom USA Here for 5 yearsHere for 5 years My clinic: My clinic: 北京和睦家医院北京和睦家医院

MyMy Blog: Myhealthbeijing.comBlog: Myhealthbeijing.com

Weibo.com/daniudaifuWeibo.com/daniudaifu

SynopsisSynopsis

1.1. AT HOMEAT HOME2.2. AT THE MARKETAT THE MARKET3.3. AT A RESTAURANTAT A RESTAURANT

Food Safety: The Main Food Safety: The Main ProblemsProblems

BacteriaBacteria• InfectionsInfections• Food poisoningFood poisoning

Chemicals & PesticidesChemicals & Pesticides• Cause cancer?Cause cancer?• Endocrine problemsEndocrine problems• Allergic reactionsAllergic reactions

Your GoalsYour Goals Minimize your exposure to toxinsMinimize your exposure to toxins Control what & where you eatControl what & where you eat Control what & where you buyControl what & where you buy Live SUPER-healthyLive SUPER-healthy

• Antioxidant lifestyleAntioxidant lifestyle• Don’t smokeDon’t smoke• ExerciseExercise• Stay slimStay slim

DON’T SMOKEDON’T SMOKE Smoking is China’s #1 public health Smoking is China’s #1 public health

problem – NOT food safetyproblem – NOT food safety

Part 1: At HomePart 1: At Home

Water SafetyWater Safety

Big Water jugs? Maybe notBig Water jugs? Maybe not• 50% counterfeit water50% counterfeit water• Bacteria in waterBacteria in water• Cheap plastic leaches into itCheap plastic leaches into it• Good brand? Good brand?

BeijingBeijing  KangtaiKangtai  GaokeGaoke  Co.Co.  

Install A Water FilterInstall A Water Filter Tap water Tap water –– add a filter add a filter

• Aquasana highly rated (many others)Aquasana highly rated (many others)

Milk Scandal #1: FormulaMilk Scandal #1: Formula Melamine in infant formulaMelamine in infant formula

• 300,000 sick, a dozen die300,000 sick, a dozen die Kidney failuresKidney failures

• MULTIPLE recurrences since then!MULTIPLE recurrences since then!

What to do?What to do?

#1 Choice: Breastfeeding#1 Choice: Breastfeeding

Best Dairy Brands?Best Dairy Brands? Local:Local: Green YardGreen Yard WondermilkWondermilk

Imported? $$Imported? $$

Make Your Own Soy Milk!Make Your Own Soy Milk!

What About Seafood?What About Seafood?

Fatty Fish = Great HealthFatty Fish = Great Health

Everyone should eat Everyone should eat fatty fish at least fatty fish at least

twice a week!twice a week!

I’m Nervous About Seafood…I’m Nervous About Seafood… Most rivers pollutedMost rivers polluted Farm-raised: chemicals, runoffFarm-raised: chemicals, runoff Oceans: pollutedOceans: polluted Antibiotic useAntibiotic use (my skin allergies!)(my skin allergies!)

What body of water (or fishery) in What body of water (or fishery) in China is famously clean?China is famously clean?

I Mostly Trust…I Mostly Trust… Muslim/Dalian seafood restaurantsMuslim/Dalian seafood restaurants Japanese sushi restaurantsJapanese sushi restaurants

• The popular famous onesThe popular famous ones• Top: flown from TokyoTop: flown from Tokyo

Imported frozen fishImported frozen fish• @ hypermarkets@ hypermarkets

Supplements (fish oil) – importedSupplements (fish oil) – imported Sardines in a can -- importedSardines in a can -- imported

Where To Get Omega-3 in China?Where To Get Omega-3 in China?

SAFE salmon, sardines, tuna…SAFE salmon, sardines, tuna…• @Hypermarkets@Hypermarkets

SupplementsSupplements• Iherb.comIherb.com• Costco…Costco…• Imported @ hypermarketImported @ hypermarket

Iherb.com: Good Source Of Iherb.com: Good Source Of Health Goods (USA)Health Goods (USA)

Food Handling Is A Major Issue!Food Handling Is A Major Issue!

http://www.who.int/foodsafety/consumer/5keys/en/index.html

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Wash Your Produce!Wash Your Produce! Store brandsStore brands CitrusCitrus SaltSalt VinegarVinegar ChlorineChlorine

Basic TipsBasic Tips If it can be peeled, peel it!If it can be peeled, peel it!

• Less nutrientsLess nutrients Leafy greens -- SOAKLeafy greens -- SOAK

Part 2: At The MarketPart 2: At The Market

Organics --Yes/No?Organics --Yes/No? Yes! Yes!

• Traceability = accountabilityTraceability = accountability• Less pesticides/chemicalsLess pesticides/chemicals• More oversight by govt/NGOMore oversight by govt/NGO

• NOT automatically more nutritiousNOT automatically more nutritious• Yes, many labels are not true organic…Yes, many labels are not true organic…

Organics: Do You Know Your Organics: Do You Know Your Labels?Labels?

iPhone App: “Dirty Dozen” & iPhone App: “Dirty Dozen” & “Clean 15”“Clean 15”

http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/

Where To Buy? Hypermarkets!Where To Buy? Hypermarkets!

Why Hypermarkets?Why Hypermarkets? ExperienceExperience ReputationReputation International standardsInternational standards Cold-chain trucks/storageCold-chain trucks/storage Supply chainsSupply chains Organic suppliersOrganic suppliers

My Favorite: MetroMy Favorite: Metro Frozen fishFrozen fish Organic produceOrganic produce Clean, quietClean, quiet

Part 3: At A RestaurantPart 3: At A Restaurant

Don’t Share Chopsticks!Don’t Share Chopsticks! Loaded with bacteria, virusesLoaded with bacteria, viruses…… Carry your own (metal) for lunchCarry your own (metal) for lunch Wooden Wooden –– poor washing poor washing

Buy Collapsible ChopsticksBuy Collapsible Chopsticks

Takeaway Boxes: BEWARE!Takeaway Boxes: BEWARE!

NEVER Store Food in NEVER Store Food in Takeaway Boxes!Takeaway Boxes!

Only use safe plasticsOnly use safe plastics

Cling Wrap: BewareCling Wrap: Beware Cling wrap: never microwave on foodCling wrap: never microwave on food Only use PE brandsOnly use PE brands

Glass Is BestGlass Is Best

Gutter OilGutter Oil 10% of all restaurants in China?10% of all restaurants in China?

• Smaller shopsSmaller shops• CafeteriasCafeterias• Street vendorsStreet vendors

• You get what you pay forYou get what you pay for……

Street Vendors: Buyer BewareStreet Vendors: Buyer Beware Where is toilet with soap & water to Where is toilet with soap & water to

wash hands?wash hands? How is meat preserved cold?How is meat preserved cold? Where is oil from, and how new?Where is oil from, and how new? Where is meat from? Fake lamb?Where is meat from? Fake lamb?

Great Website: www.cfs.gov.hkGreat Website: www.cfs.gov.hk

The Bottom LineThe Bottom Line You have control over what you eatYou have control over what you eat Minimize your toxinsMinimize your toxins Live super-healthyLive super-healthy ExerciseExercise Don’t smokeDon’t smoke

United Family HealthcareAddress: #2 Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100015 P.R.C.Tel: +86 (10) 5927 7000 Fax: +86 (10) 5927 720024 Hour Emergency Hotline: (010) 5927 7120www.ufh.com.cn

Thank You

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www.myhealthbeijing.comWeibo.com/daniudaifuRichard.saintcyr@ufh.com.cn