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Published on December 3, 2007

As with all foodstuffs, moderation is the key word, and a lack of moderation will only contribute to the growing problem of obesity in Thailand.

The Nestlé Research Centre in Lausanne, Switzerland, looks beyond the classical concept of food as a source of nutritional adequacy to food with added value in the form of health benefits. Food-science research today looks at structuring food and ingredients at the molecular level to optimise nutrient delivery, so that the nutrients declared on the package can offer their full health benefits to the body.

Food technology has made considerable advances in maintaining the sensory (taste) and physical properties of products while at the same time significantly reducing levels of undesirable ingredients like fat and trans fat. And that is the real challenge facing food-producers worldwide. Consumers make so many food choices based on taste acceptance that any reduction in sensory quality would likely persuade consumers to switch to a competitor's product.

So the importance of the role now being undertaken by food scientists has reached unprecedented heights. Coffee is perceived to be unhealthy by some consumers, and yet there are excellent examples of coffee products that can make an important contribution in nutritional terms from beneficial antioxidants contained in them. Of course, as with so many things in life, coffee should be enjoyed in moderation.

Nescafé Protect, for example, is a blend of roasted and green (unroasted) coffee beans rich in natural, nutritionally beneficial antioxidants. It's just one example of the company's consumer-centric science-and-technology-driven model of research and development (R&D). Indeed, Nestlé's R&D structure combines global scale and local relevance to deliver real benefits in each market. For Thai consumers, this means a more exciting choice of products that make real contributions towards a lifestyle that combines pleasure and enjoyment while ensuring good health and wellness.

There is certainly an increased recognition across Thai society of the importance of adopting moderation in the consumption of foods and beverages that have

not been a part of traditional diet.

The responsibility of educating and informing younger consumers about the dangers of excessive consumption is shared equally between parents, teachers and food-manufacturers.

This means the food industry must continue the good work it has already started in terms of clearer, simpler and more informative product labelling that details contents and nutritional benefits.

Nestlé has championed this approach for many years, recognising the importance of communicating effectively with consumers who are, after all, the company's nutritional partners.

We believe each manufacturer has a duty to provide nutritional and health benefits to its consumers. Our goal is to transform scientific results into meaningful health benefits for consumers, because we know they want products that will taste good and promote their physical and mental health and wellness.

Pathumrat Pianchorb is corporate wellness manager at Nestlé (Thai).

Pathumrat Pianchorb

Special to The Nation