Food Pacific Manufacturing Journal

Our cover story on health and nutrition focuses on our responsibility -- individually, as a company, or community -- in solving global overnutrition and undernutrition. It's something that you in the food and beverage industry already know, and likely already engaged in.

Based on statistics from the World Health Organization, about 1.9 billion adults are overweight or obese, while 462 million are underweight. There are now more obese than underweight people. It is not an easy task even on an personal level to watch one's weight, or to oversee a family's healthy well-being especially when stores are filled with snacks and convenience foods in very attractive packaging. The temptation is great - when choosing a snack, it's a mental wrestle between what's delicious and what's nutritious. Some brands claim their products are both. For others, we hope they keep working on reducing/eliminating ingredients that compromise the health over time. While product innovation/reformulation has its challenges, from cost to achieving the winning taste, it is simply a part of an ongoing process to stay relevant in an industry that faces constant change.

So yes, it is our wish to see more consolidated efforts in eliminating malnutrition in Southeast Asia and the rest of the world. It is our wish to see better products, and more nutritious and good-tasting food and beverage sold in markets and convenience stores. Let’s all work together for a healthier population.