Under the country's blistering heatwave, something cold and sweet is always welcomed with open arms. Think the popular Honey Toast served with ice cream or the Korean fluffy ice-shaving Bingsu. But for a less luxurious rendition, Thais also have iced sweet drinks. Served in plastic cups from many street vendors, only a few sips of these beverages are so refreshing we might totally forget what they actually contain.
The truth might trigger goosebumps. A recent survey conducted by a health specialist from the Bright and Healthy Thai Kid Project revealed five cold refreshments from roadside stalls that contained the highest amount of sugar per regular cup. In the first place was sala-flavoured iced drink known as daeng soda that contained 15.5 teaspoons of sugar. Equally shocking was the second-place iced cacao drink which contained 13.3 teaspoons of sugar followed by iced tea mixed with lemon juice (12.6 teaspoons), iced tea (12.5 teaspoons) and iced milk tea (12.3 teaspoons). Released just last week, the survey was supported by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation.
Thais truly have a sweet tooth and this, according to Prof Visith Chavasit of Mahidol University's Institute of Nutrition, has set the alarm bells ringing.
Sala-flavoured soda drinks contain 15.5 teaspoons of sugar, according to a survey by the Bright and Healthy Thai Kid Project. Photo: Melalin Mahavongtrakul
"Thailand's eating culture is intimidating," he said. "Thai people are addicted to sweetness and our sugar consumption is on the rise every year. Even our children consume more sugary stuff. In numbers, Thais consume twice the amount of sugar they are supposed to take in a day."
The reality might be even worse. Last year, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation stated that Thais consume more than 20 teaspoons of sugar a day -- more than triple the six teaspoons recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
This might throw light upon Thailand's escalating rate of diabetes and obesity. According to figures from the Diabetes Association of Thailand, the prevalence rate of diabetes among Thais aged above 18 increased from 6.9% in 2009 to 8.9% in 2014. In terms of obesity, the prevalence rate also climbed up from 34.7% in 2009 to 37.5% in 2014.
Statistics from the International Diabetes Federation also revealed that, of around 49 million Thai adults, approximately 4 million were reported to have suffered diabetes in 2015. The prevalence of the disease in Thailand is the second highest in Asean countries, after Indonesia. Data from the National Health Commission Office of Thailand also showed that during the past two decades, Thai people's average weight has doubled. When compared to other Asian countries, Thailand ranks second only after China in the number of obese women.
On a global scale, based on the International Diabetes Federation's seventh edition of IDF Diabetes Atlas, one in 11 adults has diabetes in 2016. One in two adults with diabetes is undiagnosed. Around the world, an estimated 415 million adults have diabetes. The disease kills one person every six seconds.
"Sugar is an empty calorie, meaning it has no other nutritional benefits than giving energy. If it exceeds the body's demand, it is converted and accumulates as fat. In kids, it causes tooth decay.
"The WHO even wants to go so far as to reduce the recommended amount to only 5% of the daily energy intake," Visith added.
To fix poor eating habits, education is the best strategy, according to the professor. And to do so, the Nutrition Promotion Foundation under Mahidol University's Institute of Nutrition recently launched its Healthier Logo. In a nutshell, a Healthier Logo will be awarded to products that pass its criteria. For instance, a bottled beverage product contains less than 6% sugar, the manufacturer will be allowed to print the Healthier Logo on its packaging. Countries such as Singapore, Mexico, Finland and Australia have implemented a similar concept. Singapore alone has used such a healthy approach for 13 years.
Submitted products will be screened by academics from the Nutrition Promotion Foundation to see if they qualify for the logo. Public hearings also will be conducted with industrial sectors and other related agencies. In Thailand, so far almost 180 food items have received the Healthier Logo, including milk, instant noodles and fruit drinks, to name a few. Visith hopes that such a protocol will be mutually recognised on a regional scale so that healthy products from Thailand can be accepted in neighbouring countries as well. This will eventually benefit the country's food industry.
An initiative of the Nutrition Promotion Foundation, the Healthier Logo aims to educate people about healthy eating. Photo courtesy of Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University
"We do not expect that the Healthier Logo will solve all the [nutrition-related] problems," Visith said. "We only wish that it would indirectly educate the public that there are healthier choices out there and that unhealthy food can bring about non-communicable diseases and so forth."
Despite the concrete tool like the Healthy Logo, questions remain -- what about roadside vendors that sell, for instance, iced sugary drinks? Or other local food items that do not involve industrial manufacturing processes? Are they entitled to receiving the Healthy Logo too?
Visith said that food stalls, schools that sell snacks and restaurants are more than welcome to adopt the Healthier Logo principle.
"Restaurants can send us their menus," he said. "If they pass our criteria, we can give them the logo. The same also goes with street food vendors. Consumers will gradually see the importance of having the logo at restaurants, vendors, whatever. And in the end consumer demand will bring about adjustments from the industry side.
"Changing people's perception towards healthy eating might take decades. But it has to start now."
Visith said he is not suggesting we all should opt only for bland food. Instead, consumers should seek a balance. If consumers are educated as to what the right balance actually implies, the country's eating conundrum can definitely be alleviated in the long run.
"It all comes down to people's eating habits," he said. "Thais are accustomed to strong tastes, be they spicy, sweet or salty. When we eat outside, we add seasoning to food even before we taste it. We really should understand that such a habit can potentially lead to non-communicable diseases."
Eating is in fact a preventive measure. If we do it right, it is likely to shield us against illnesses. Thailand is on the verge of becoming an ageing society, so if the country is also to have more sick people, then we are doomed.
"The key is eating with the right balance. If you like to eat something sweet, then exercise. Adjusting eating habits is an individual matter. Lessening sweet, salty and oily diets, this is all up to yourself."
