HEALTHY OPTIONS IN EATING ESTABLISHMENTS

The results of the National Nutrition and Health Survey 2003 has clearly shown that there are six major risk factors prevalent among our population today, namely, physical inactivity, smoking, hypertension, obesity, diabetes and abnormal cholesterol. These risk factors are known causes of cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and diabetes mellitus. These diseases are listed among the top 10 leading causes of deaths in the country with cardiovascular diseases topping the list. All of the risk factors listed above, except for smoking and physical inactivity, are related with diet and nutrition.

Recognizing the need to address the above issues, the Philippine Coalition for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases led by the Department of Health embarked on a Healthy Lifestyle Advocacy. Dubbed as ACTION FOR LIFE, this strategic initiative is also in line with the Global Strategy for Diet, Physical Activity and Health espoused by the World Health Organization. Aimed at turning fast-food into healthier food, ACTION FOR LIFE engages the fast-food industry to take an active role in influencing Filipinos to have more healthy and nutritious food. This is so because 5 out of 10 Filipinos who eat out eat in fast-food centers, and as such they can become vital partners in this endeavor.

For fast-food centers to turn fast-food into healthier food they have to:

L - imit levels of saturated fat, trans-fatty acids, free sugars, salt in existing products as well as upgrade quality of fat, sugar, salt to reformulated products

I - integrate other healthy lifestyle initiatives such as banning smoking in outlets and declaring them as smoke free establishments.

F - ormulate new products with better nutritional value.

E - ducate consumers especially children by providing adequate and easy to understand product and nutrition information to keep consumers informed on healthy food choices.

The Recognition Program for Healthy Lifestyle Promoting Food Establishments is the mechanism by which the ACTION FOR LIFE strategy is being implemented. It has three levels of implementation and will engage not only fast-food chains but other food establishments.

Level I: Signing of a Memorandum of Agreement – this will allow for the food establishments to commit whatever they feel they can commit in the ACTION FOR LIFE strategy for a certain period of time. Level II: Recognition of Food Establishment as a Healthy Eating Place – a set of standards spelling out the ACTION FOR LIFE strategy will be incorporated in the Healthy Eating Place Recognition Program of the DOH. Level III: Certification Program for Healthier Food Products – a quality seal will be attached to a certain food product passing quality standards set, again using the ACTION FOR LIFE strategy.

Currently, only Wendy’s has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Health. Substantial changes in their menu have been instituted as a result. Continuing work is still being done on other fast-food chains.

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