Food safety is a major concern in China. How can people optimize their health? As a family medicine doctor in China for 5 years, I've often discussed food safety on my blog at http://myhealthbeijing.com. Here, I offer my insights and tips on how to live a healthy lifestyle.

1. Food Safety In China
Richard Saint Cyr MD
Group Director of Clinical Marketing & Communications, UFH
Family Medicine Doctor – Beijing United Family Hospital
Blog: myhealthbeijing.com
Weibo: weibo.com/daniudaifu

2. About Me
 Family Medicine doctor
 From USA
 Here for 5 years
 My clinic: 北京和睦家医院

3. My Blog: Myhealthbeijing.com

4. Weibo.com/daniudaifu

5. Synopsis
1. AT HOME
2. AT THE MARKET
3. AT A RESTAURANT

6. Food Safety: The Main
Problems
 Bacteria
• Infections
• Food poisoning
 Chemicals & Pesticides
• Cause cancer?
• Endocrine problems
• Allergic reactions

7. Your Goals
 Minimize your exposure to toxins
 Control what & where you eat
 Control what & where you buy
 Live SUPER-healthy
• Antioxidant lifestyle
• Don’t smoke
• Exercise
• Stay slim

8. DON’T SMOKE
 Smoking is China’s #1 public health
problem – NOT food safety

9. Part 1: At Home

10. Water Safety
Big Water jugs? Maybe not
• 50% counterfeit water
• Bacteria in water
• Cheap plastic leaches into it
• Good brand?
Beijing Kangtai Gaoke Co.

11. Install A Water Filter
 Tap water – add a filter
• Aquasana highly rated (many others)

13. Milk Scandal #1: Formula
 Melamine in infant formula
• 300,000 sick, a dozen die
 Kidney failures
• MULTIPLE recurrences since then!
 What to do?

14. #1 Choice: Breastfeeding

15. Best Dairy Brands?
 Local:
 Green Yard
 Wondermilk
 Imported? $$

16. Make Your Own Soy Milk!

17. What About Seafood?

18. Fatty Fish = Great Health

19. Everyone should eat
fatty fish at least
twice a week!

20. I’m Nervous About Seafood…
 Most rivers polluted
 Farm-raised: chemicals, runoff
 Oceans: polluted
 Antibiotic use
 (my skin allergies!)
 What body of water (or fishery) in
China is famously clean?

21. I Mostly Trust…
 Muslim/Dalian seafood restaurants
 Japanese sushi restaurants
• The popular famous ones
• Top: flown from Tokyo
 Imported frozen fish
• @ hypermarkets
 Supplements (fish oil) – imported
 Sardines in a can -- imported

22. Where To Get Omega-3 in China?
 SAFE salmon, sardines, tuna…
• @Hypermarkets
 Supplements
• Iherb.com
• Costco…
• Imported @ hypermarket

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

24. Food Handling Is A Major Issue!
http://www.who.int/foodsafety/consumer/5keys/en/index.html

25. c

26. Wash Your Produce!
 Store brands
 Citrus
 Salt
 Vinegar
 Chlorine

27. Basic Tips
 If it can be peeled, peel it!
• Less nutrients
 Leafy greens -- SOAK

28. Part 2: At The Market

29. Organics --Yes/No?
 Yes!
• Traceability = accountability
• Less pesticides/chemicals
• More oversight by govt/NGO
• NOT automatically more nutritious
• Yes, many labels are not true organic…

30. Organics: Do You Know Your
Labels?

31. iPhone App: “Dirty Dozen” &
“Clean 15”
http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/

32. Where To Buy? Hypermarkets!

33. Why Hypermarkets?
 Experience
 Reputation
 International standards
 Cold-chain trucks/storage
 Supply chains
 Organic suppliers

34. My Favorite: Metro
 Frozen fish
 Organic produce
 Clean, quiet

35. Part 3: At A Restaurant

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

37. Buy Collapsible Chopsticks

38. Takeaway Boxes: BEWARE!

39. NEVER Store Food in
Takeaway Boxes!
 Only use safe plastics

40. Cling Wrap: Beware
 Cling wrap: never microwave on food
 Only use PE brands

41. Glass Is Best

42. Gutter Oil
 10% of all restaurants in China?
• Smaller shops
• Cafeterias
• Street vendors
• You get what you pay for…

43. Street Vendors: Buyer Beware
 Where is toilet with soap & water to
wash hands?
 How is meat preserved cold?
 Where is oil from, and how new?
 Where is meat from? Fake lamb?

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

45. The Bottom Line
 You have control over what you eat
 Minimize your toxins
 Live super-healthy
 Exercise
 Don’t smoke

46. Thank You
www.myhealthbeijing.com
Weibo.com/daniudaifu
Richard.saintcyr@ufh.com.cn
United Family Healthcare
Address: #2 Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District,
Beijing 100015 P.R.C.
Tel: +86 (10) 5927 7000 Fax: +86 (10) 5927 7200
24 Hour Emergency Hotline: (010) 5927 7120
www.ufh.com.cn
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