ASIA UPDATES
Filipinos getting more health conscious but want further support from food industry to improve diets A new report from Food Industry Asia (FIA) has revealed that although a majority of Filipinos (81 per cent) believe that following a healthy, balanced diet is their own responsibility, they also want more support from the industry. Among this support, they want more visibility of reformulated food and beverage products, increased communications that outline the benefits of these products, and clearer nutrition labels. ‘Healthier Product Reformulation in the Philippines’, is the first of its kind report for the country, and it surveyed both consumers and food and beverage (F&B) businesses. The aim of the report was to better understand behavioral trends and perceptions of solutions geared towards delivering improved nutrition such as reformulation and product labelling.
per cent), and fat (32 per cent) have been identified as key areas to improve their diets. However, a majority (79 per cent) of consumers also believe that food companies should voluntarily change their product formulations and recipes to help consumers make – and stick – to these healthier choices. In line with this, three-quarters (76 per cent) of Filipino consumers have indicated their receptiveness towards the addition or removal of ingredients and the use of alternatives to make a product healthier.
Commenting on the findings, FIA Public Affairs Manager, Ms Sabeera Ali, said this illustrates the level of acceptance towards the reformulation of products in the Philippines. More importantly, the findings also highlight the opportunity for the industry to create a According to the report, health consciousness among healthier food environment for consumers, which is Filipino consumers is increasing, with 56 per cent of where the majority of the industry has started to those surveyed claiming that they mostly maintain shift towards. a healthy diet. While most consumers (99 per cent) have shown some interest in adopting healthier eating “Against a backdrop of growing concerns over obesity, habits, eating more fruits and vegetables (41 per cent) non-communicable diseases like diabetes, and COVIDand reducing the intake of salt (34 per cent), sugar (32 19, product reformulation is already well underway in
18
ASIA FOOD BEVERAGE THAILAND
