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More than 200 EatSmart customers received recognition from the Department of Health 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 the department and the Hong Kong College of Cardiology in collaboration with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in February 2009 to empower community members to eat healthily.
Officiating at the recognition ceremony today, the Director of Health, Dr Lam Ping-yan, said many non-communicable diseases could be avoided through practising a healthy lifestyle, in which healthy eating was a key.
Under the programme, voluntary EatSmart customers visited EatSmart restaurants (ESR) to appraise the dishes, putting the concept of healthy eating into practice.
"Comments made by the customers 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 Lam said.
Through the network of participating NGOs from the 18 districts, about 250 community members were recruited as EatSmart customers. They visited more than 400 ESRs in Hong Kong between March 2009 and January 2010.
The ECCP rode on the success of the "EatSmart@restaurant.hk" Campaign, which was launched in 2008 to create a supportive environment that made healthy eating in the community easier. More than 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 EatSmart customers 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 Chief Executive of the Consumer Council, Ms Connie Lau. Dr Lam expressed 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.
"We appreciate the support by various sectors to the ECCP and look forward to continued collaboration with various stakeholders in promoting the healthy eating culture," he said.
Ends/Friday, February 26, 2010
Issued at HKT 13:00
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