Chapter 33 - Regulation of functional foods in selected Asian countries in the Pacific Rim

Abstract

Diet-related chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease and diabetes have been rising in Asian countries in the Pacific Rim. This is especially pronounced among urban communities because of the adoption of a Western-style diet and the pace of living. To combat chronic diseases, nutritional trends have changed dramatically over the last 2decades. There has been a greater focus on the preventive role of nutrition and foods with health benefits, such as functional foods. In response to consumer trends, the industry increased efforts to produce foods that possess “specific health care abilities.” Functional foods were also imported from other countries such as China, Japan, and Europe. To control the production and movement of this food category, many Asian jurisdictions in the Pacific Rim, including South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and Malaysia, have succeeded in developing regulations for the production and use of nutraceuticals and functional foods. Some other countries either used existing global regulations or have been working on developing a new system. Although most countries in the region adopted the Codex Alimentarius definition, functional foods may have divergent meanings in various countries. The term “functional foods” may include health and functional health foods, foods that are fortified with minerals and vitamins, dietary supplements, or even traditional Chinese medicine.