26 Feb 2010
More than 200 EatSmart Customers (EC) received recognition from the Department of Health (DH) today (February 26) for their contribution in pursuing and promoting healthy eating.
They are participants of the EatSmart Customer Community Programme (ECCP), which was launched by DH and the Hong Kong College of Cardiology in collaboration with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in February 2009 with a view to empowering community members to eat healthily.
Officiating at the Recognition Ceremony today, the Director of Health Dr PY Lam said many non-communicable diseases can be avoided through practising a healthy lifestyle, in which healthy eating is a key.
Under the programme, voluntary ECs visited EatSmart restaurants (ESR) to appraise the dishes, putting the concept of healthy eating into practice.
"Comments made by ECs allow us to take appropriate follow-up actions to help ESRs better meet the needs of the public for tasty and healthy dishes. This facilitates the programme’s long-term development," Dr PY Lam said.
Through the network of participating NGOs from 18 districts, about 250 community members were recruited as ECs. They had visited over 400 ESRs in Hong Kong between March 2009 and January 2010.
ECCP rode on the success of the "EatSmart@restaurant.hk" Campaign, which was launched in 2008 to create a supportive environment that makes healthy eating in the community easier. Over 600 restaurants signed up as ESRs by serving healthier dishes with more fruit or vegetables, and less oil, salt and sugar to customers.
Every ECCP participant had to attend workshops and undergo comprehensive training on healthy eating skills and how to distinguish EatSmart dishes with "More Fruit and Vegetables" and "3 Less". These workshops provided ECs with an opportunity to understand their roles and missions before appraising the eatsmart dishes in ESRs.
Also officiating at the Recognition Ceremony were Dr Chiang Chung-seung and Dr Ko Tak-him of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology as well as Ms Connie Lau, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council. Dr PY Lam gave appreciation to the Hong Kong College of Cardiology and the Consumer Council for their support for and education of the public to become wiser and healthier customers.
Dr Lam also said, "We appreciate the support by various sectors to ECCP and look forward to continued collaboration with various stakeholders in promoting the healthy eating culture."