Zhang Zhiqiang, former deputy director of the National Health Commission: Food industry investment should establish the concept of ESG

Reporter Xu Jie Intern Liang Aonan

"Food is related to the basic consumption and health of the people. Investment in the food industry should first establish an ESG concept with broader social value, and at the same time, it should also focus on China's food-related laws and policies. On October 22, at the 4th China Dairy Capital Forum hosted by Securities Daily, Zhang Zhiqiang, former deputy director of the National Health Commission, delivered a keynote speech on "Relevant Principles For Investment in the Food Industry".

In Zhang Zhiqiang's view, food investment should pay attention to China's food-related management laws and regulations and food nutrition and health policies.

Zhang Zhiqiang believes that all food industries in China, including food processing and sales, catering services, and the production and use of food additives and food contact materials, should comply with the Food Safety Law and relevant laws and regulations. At the same time, all kinds of milk and dairy products, including raw milk, liquid milk, milk powder, yogurt, cheese and other dairy products have corresponding national food safety standards, including milk and dairy products food safety national standards, as well as the "General Rules for Nutrition Labeling of Prepackaged Foods" and "Good Manufacturing Practices for Dairy Products".

The Healthy China 2030 Planning Outline explicitly includes the food industry in the category of the health industry, which will be more conducive to the development of the food industry, especially the dairy industry. Since the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the National Health Commission has successively issued the "Nutritional Dietary Guidance for the Prevention and Treatment of New Coronavirus" and the "Clinical Nutrition Dietary Guidance for Patients With Novel Coronavirus Infection", as well as the "Recommended Opinions on the Consumption of Milk and Dairy Products for Chinese Residents" issued by the National Health Industry Enterprise Management Association and the Chinese Nutrition Society, all of which advocate consumers to insist on eating milk and dairy products to enhance their resistance.

Zhang Zhiqiang also believes that food investment should also pay attention to the recommendations of relevant international organizations on food nutrition and health, such as the RECOMMENDATIONS of breastfeeding such as the WHO and unICEF, and the list of food-related carcinogens released by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The food nutrition and health recommendations issued by international organizations will have a great impact on the formulation of relevant food management laws, regulations and policies in China, as well as on the food nutrition and health cognition of consumers and investors.

At this forum, Zhang Zhiqiang put forward several suggestions for promoting dairy consumption and industrial development.

First, we must adhere to the health-oriented, scientific-based, and regulatory standards as the norm to promote the development of the milk and dairy industry and market consumption.

Second, the promotion of the health significance of milk and dairy products should continue to be strengthened. The publicity of the health significance of milk and dairy products should fully mobilize health-related technical institutions, including disease prevention and control institutions at all levels, hospitals and health-related academic groups, etc., to publicize the public scientifically, objectively and fairly on the basis of science, focus on changing incorrect eating behavior, and encourage everyone to drink more milk.

The scientific community generally believes that milk and dairy products are rich in high-quality proteins and essential nutrients, which are the best nutritious foods for human beings and are beneficial to enhancing the body's immunity. Therefore, the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents recommend that Chinese residents consume 300 grams of liquid milk or equivalent amounts of other dairy products per person per day (excluding infant formula).

According to the dietary consumption survey of Chinese residents, at present, the per capita daily consumption of milk and dairy products in China is less than 60 grams, and there is still a big gap between 300 grams. Therefore, China's milk and dairy products also have a fairly broad market space.

Third, enterprises should fully guarantee the food safety and nutritional quality of milk and dairy products, do a good job in the control of the whole process of production and operation, conscientiously implement the hygiene norms for the production of milk and dairy products, and establish and implement HACCP control plans for each product.

"Milk and dairy products that are more suitable for Chinese consumers should be developed, with special emphasis on developing milk and dairy products suitable for the elderly and lactose intolerant populations." Zhang Zhiqiang said: "Milk and dairy products are the most suitable for the elderly population of protein, calcium and other nutrient sources of food, if the nutritional and health needs of the elderly population, the appropriate addition of probiotics, vitamins and minerals, it is the icing on the cake for the elderly food." ”

Finally, Zhang Zhiqiang suggested, "We should continue to implement the student nutrition milk program, so that children and adolescents across the country can drink milk, promote the growth of children and adolescents, and let more people develop the eating habit of loving milk." ”

(Edited by Qiao Chuanchuan)