August 23, 2007

Vietnam's meat consumption on the rise

A sharp rise in protein and fat consumption has been noted in the last 20 years as Vietnamese family meals have dramatically changed from vegetables to meat, according to a study released last Friday by the National Institute of Nutrition.

The director of the Hanoi-based institute Nguyen Cong Khan said the amount of meat in Vietnamese diets is now five times more than in 1985. Khan said the study also revealed eggs and milk were rarely used for meals over 20 years ago but public consumption of these products has increased 24 times.

Khan attributed changing diets to rapid economic development, which has also led to an increase in certain diseases over the past few years.

Vietnam has also recorded an alarming increase in oil, fat and sugar consumption, while the amount of vegetables eaten daily has remained virtually unchanged at about 200 grams a person.

The daily amount of vegetables consumed by the average Vietnamese is only half of what the World Health Organisation suggestions, while fats are 20 percent above the recommended level.

Between 1996 and 2005, the number of deaths caused by chronic ailments, including high blood pressure and diabetes, accounted for 60 percent of all deaths caused by disease. Inappropriate diets were to blame, said Khan.