Thailand’s Ministry of Public health launches innovative health food market initiative

The Ministry of Public Health in Thailand is trying to revolutionise the way locals think about food and health. On July 10, 2024, at the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Public Health, Somsak Thepsuthin, Minister of Public Health, inaugurated the pioneering health market initiative, From Healthy Menu to Medicinal Food. This initiative aims to promote health through nutrition and create a supportive environment for healthy eating habits among Thai citizens

The vision: Health through nutrition

Minister Somsak Thepsuthin emphasised that the Ministry’s health policies focus on promoting wellness through various programs related to health promotion, nutrition, food and water sanitation, and medicinal foods. The goal is to create an environment conducive to healthy consumption habits, ensuring that people of all ages can enjoy good health. The health market initiative is a model project designed to provide clean, nutritious, and safe foods that effectively prevent and alleviate diseases.

“The health market will open every Wednesday, starting from July 10, 2024, within the Ministry of Public Health premises. This initiative aims to create a sustainable environment that promotes good health. Expanding this model to health markets across all regions of Thailand would be beneficial, ensuring that people of all ages adopt healthy eating behaviours,” said Minister Somsak.

Addressing dietary challenges

Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, highlighted the alarming statistics regarding Thai dietary habits. In 2023, Thailand’s sugar consumption reached 1.7 million tons, equating to approximately 18 teaspoons per person per day, far exceeding the World Health Organization’s recommendation of no more than 6 teaspoons per day.

Similarly, the average daily sodium intake was 3,636 milligrams, well above the WHO’s guideline of 2,000 milligrams per day. These dietary habits contribute significantly to the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes. In 2019, NCDs were responsible for the deaths of 17.9 million, 9 million, and 1.6 million people, respectively, in Thailand.

“Improving the Thai population’s diet is crucial for creating a healthy environment. Providing access to nutritious, safe, and medicinally beneficial foods is essential to changing consumption behaviours. This health market serves as a model to raise awareness and provide a space for selling health-promoting foods and products,” Dr Opas stated.

A collaborative effort

Dr Atchara Nitiaphinyasakul, Director-General of the Department of Health, underscored the Department of Health’s efforts to promote public health across all age groups. The health market initiative, “From Healthy Menu to Medicinal Food,” aims to create an environment that encourages healthy eating behaviours among Ministry personnel and the public. This market will not only offer healthy food options but also serve as a platform for knowledge exchange, driving the adoption of health-promoting food standards nationwide.

“Today’s event has seen the participation of private sector partners, including restaurants and beverage outlets that meet the Department of Health’s healthy menu standards and the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine’s medicinal food criteria. These establishments are showcasing 15 outlets offering a variety of nutritious and delicious food options,” Dr Atchara explained.

Featured vendors and their offerings

• Khun Cher Vegetarian Kitchen: Offering plant-based dishes such as brown rice tom yum noodles and stuffed eggplant with minced chicken.
• EAST Café by Impact: Featuring egg sandwiches, Japanese salads, and butterfly pea flower drinks.
• Kanda’s Herbal Drinks: Serving centella asiatica and fingerroot drinks.
• Smart Nine Farm: Providing herbal rice salad, mixed vegetable rolls, and kale smoothies.
• Empire Rad Na: Selling soft pork rad na, steamed rice, and pork blood soup.
• Jamrat Saku: Offering mung bean dumplings.
• Mit Trem: Serving basmati rice with dal curry and potato tikki.
• Bungern Ruay: Featuring rice topped with stir-fried mixed vegetables and shrimp.
• Idin Fresh: Offering steamed rice with stuffed chicken breast.
• Greek yoghurt shop: Serving various Greek yoghurt dishes.
• Department of Medical Sciences: Featuring steamed rice with shrimp soup.
• Pen Siri Prachya Sahaklinik: Offering herbal porridge and herbal chrysanthemum drinks.
• Pesticide-free salad vegetable shop: Selling a variety of fresh, pesticide-free vegetables.
• Golf’s Less Sweet Fruits: Offering fruits such as guava, dragon fruit, and cantaloupe.
• Ethics Club of the Department of Health: Serving lightly sweetened pandan leaf drinks.

This innovative health market not only aims to improve public health through better nutrition but also hopes to set a new standard for health-promoting environments across Thailand. By providing accessible, nutritious, and medicinally beneficial foods, the Ministry of Public Health is leading the way toward a healthier future for all Thais.