Fastfood junkies take heart: Health department readies standards

MANILA, Philippines - Guilt-free chow-downs coming soon? Standards are currently being drafted for what is expected to be a voluntary program, said Frances Prescilla Cuevas, national program manager of the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control’s Degenerative Disease Office. "The program is to accelerate our promotion of healthy lifestyles. We are working with the National Nutrition Council and other private partners to create standards for food products like hamburgers," Ms. Cuevas said. The program entails adhering to nutritional standards set by the DoH. Each fastfood chain is encouraged to voluntarily apply and will be urged to reformulate products to suit the certification. Ms. Cuevas said fastfood chains are not being forced to comply with the standards. Certification, however, could provide an opportunity for chains to advertise their products as good for the body. "If they don’t pass or they don’t want to be certified, it’s okay. They just have to know that they are going to be missing a program that can be a great advertising decision for them," she said. The Health department will be partnering with fast-food chains Jollibee, Wendy’s, and Goldilocks and is looking to have more firms join. Jollibee public relations manager Arline B. Adeva said the chain decided to join the program because of its concern for customers. "It will be a long process but it is a step forward to healthier options. Majority of people in the country eat at fast food restaurants and it is good for the DoH to enjoin the support of fast food restaurants," she said in a telephone interview. The certification program is part of an intensified Health department program to encourage healthy living. - BusinessWorld