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Chinese Leaders: Reduce Edible Oil, Eat More Beans and Dairy

The Chinese propaganda machine is pushing dietary change with a slogan: "Appropriately reduce oil and increase intake of legumes and dairy." State media have been running a story touting the health benefits of dietary guidelines for Chinese citizens published 4 years ago. The article/video features the Agriculture Minister's recitation of the slogan at last month's "two sessions" and advice from a Yunnan Province hospital physician on how to adjust eating habits. The article emphasized the health benefits of increasing intake of legumes and dairy while keeping total calories and fat intake in check. 

The guidelines recommend limiting edible oil intake to 25-to-30 g. per day, warning that the limits can be easily exceeded if one consumes excessive amounts of meat and fried foods. The Yunnan physician recommended avoiding deep-fried foods, cutting back on animal fats, and steaming, boiling, stewing, or quick-frying to reduce oil intake. She recommended using a spray bottle or other equipment to limit oil use when stir-frying. 

The article praised soybeans and their products as a source of high quality plant protein, B vitamins and dietary fiber to prevent obesity and muscle loss and to improve bone density. The guidelines recommend intake of 25-35 g of dry soybeans daily, equivalent to 75-120 g of fresh edamame, 50-75 g of white tofu, or 300-500 ml of soy milk. 

The physician recommended that healthy individuals prioritize consumption of whole milk. Those with chronic conditions like obesity or hyperlipidemia can choose low-fat or skim milk, and lactose-free milk is available for those with lactose intolerance. She warned consumers against "milk-containing beverages" that are usually low in protein and high in sugar. 

The 2022 dietary guidelines featured a "food pagoda"--obviously inspired by the now defunct USDA "food pyramid." They were much more detailed than the recommendations featured this week. 

"Food pagoda" issued with China's
 2022 nutritional guidelines.

The recommended oil daily intake of 25-30 g. translates to a national intake of 12.8 to 15.3 million metric tons of edible oils per year assuming a population of 1.4 billion. This suggests a 50% reduction in consumption in view of estimates by China's agriculture ministry that annual edible oil consumption is about 34 million metric tons. 

The recommended daily soybean intake of 25-35 g. translates to national consumption of 12.8 to 17.9 million metric tons annually. The ag ministry estimates that food use of soybeans is currently 15.8 million metric tons -- well within the recommended range. 
Image accompanying an article last month recommended drinking a cup of soy milk and cow's milk morning and evening.


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