Sponsored by Xinhua News Agency and co-organized by BYHEALTH under the professional instruction of the Science Popularization Working Committee of Chinese Nutrition Society, the “518 China Nutrition Festival” kicked off on May 18, 2022. In response to the call of the “Healthy China 2030” initiative, the first “518 China Nutrition Festival” is themed around “Science-based Nutrition for a Healthy China”. Putting forward a scientific outlook on nutrition--“promoting food diversification and scientific intake of seven nutrients”, it is dedicated to greater public health awareness, higher health standard and better quality of life.

Promoting food diversification and scientific intake of seven nutrients

A well-balanced diet forms the basis of health. Particularly under the hitherto rampant pandemic, balanced nutrition for immunity enhancement has had a high profile in China. According to Xinhua News Agency’s recent street interviews, most respondents are eager for a healthy body but know nothing about the seven essential nutrients and how to maintain a healthy diet.

Revolving around “Science-based Nutrition for a Healthy China”, the “518 China Nutrition Festival” pooled together resources from all sectors of society to promote knowledge on science-based nutrition via live streaming and a train of interactions. It encourages the public to take scientific dietary regimes, improve their health condition through nutritionally balanced diet and pay greater attention to nutrition and health issues.

The first “518 China Nutrition Festival” communicated the significance of “food diversification and scientific intake of seven nutrients” via a collection of live streaming and interactions with experts. It also provided constructive dietary advice for white-collar workers, elders, pregnant women, infants & toddlers, and other groups of people. Trending topics, such as “rumor refuter” and “national nutritive cuisine competition”, were also illustrated in live streaming in an impressive way. The Day was both informative and entertaining.

Building a platform for exchange of nutrition information with concerted effort

The first “518 China Nutrition Festival” would not be a success but for the endorsement of the Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Nutrition Society and BYHEALTH. Media agencies and leading lights and enterprises from medical nutrition, sports and other sectors also offered extensive support.

Yang Xiaoguang, researcher of National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Vice President of Chinese Nutrition Society, ascribed profound importance to the Day, “we expect to involve more social forces in ‘implementation of rational dietary action’. By bringing the national standards of nutrition and health to a new high level, we will eventually fulfill the ambition of building a healthy China.”

On behalf of the organizer of the event, Yang Yu, Deputy Editor-in-chief of Xinhua News Agency Center for Industrial Economy, expressed his sentiments on actualities of the national diet and health and defined science-based nutrition as a national initiative.

He Li, researcher of National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, member of the Standing Committee of Nutrition and Chronic Disease Control Branch, Chinese Nutrition Society, and expert on health popularization of National Health Commission, and Yu Kang, director of Clinical Nutrition Department, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, shed light on such topics as “outlook on science-based nutrition” and “personalized nutritional supplements” at the live streaming activities in the forenoon and evening respectively during the 518 China Nutrition Festival.

Lin Xu, chief scientist of BYHEALTH, chief professor of Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, and distinguished research fellow of Chinese Academy of Sciences, hailed promoting food diversification and inspiring more people to follow nutritionally balanced diet as a crucial move to put into practice “building a healthy China with nutrition as a priority”.

In addition, the Report of Gen Z Consumption Trends on Nutrition (2022) was co-delivered by BYHEALTH and JD Health at the opening ceremony of the “518 China Nutrition Festival”. For young population who are in pursuit of better nutrition supplements to make up for the excessive consumption of health, dietitians offered targeted proposals on nutrition.

Apart from industry leaders, Eileen Gu, freestyle skiing world champion, Yuan Xinyue, Ding Xia and Li Yingying, winners of the world trophy on women’s volleyball, and other athletes representing China’s women's national volleyball team, national cycling team, and national rugby team, also rooted for the 518 China Nutrition Festival. In an appeal for public concern of science-based nutrition, they came as a surprise to the event.

As one of the initiators of the “518 China Nutrition Festival”, BYHEALTH took advantage of its superiority as a leading brand to organize kick-off meetings and popular science lectures in many cities nationwide jointly with some chain pharmacies and organizations to promote science-based nutrition. Concurrently, a “National Local Cuisine Nutrition Competition” swept twelve cities nationwide, drawing hundreds of thousands of netizens to share delicacies with local characteristics and get the picture of balanced diet therein.

Every May 18 is reportedly nominated as the 518 China Nutrition Festival. Pivoted on “Science-based Nutrition for a Healthy China”, the festival adopts a “Greater Food” approach to promote tips on dietary nutrition and health in the light of the Healthy China 2030.