Nutrition study shows too much fat, need for more protein in Chinese diets

Chinese people have been eating more than they need of certain types of food and are facing an obvious dietary imbalance, according to the China Agricultural Sector Development Report 2021, which was released on Tuesday.

The report, jointly released by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and International Food Policy Research Institute, shows Chinese people's per capita intake of protein and fat was respectively 85 g per day and 79 g per day in 2020.

Meanwhile, the proportion of energy supplied by carbohydrates was 50.6 percent, and that of protein and fat was 14.7 percent and 34.7 percent, respectively, it said.

The proportion of energy supplied by fat exceeded the recommended range by 20 to 30 percent, while that supplied by carbohydrates was close to the minimum level of 50 percent, which were based on the standards set in the Chinese dietary reference intakes, Part 1: Macronutrient.

Further, the intake of protein exceeded the recommended standard, but the proportion of energy supplied by protein basically met the bottom line.

"The structural imbalance of our diets is obvious," said Mei Xurong, academy vice-president.

Last year, the per capita domestic production of energy in China was 2,952 kcal per day while the per capita energy intake was 2,248 kcal per day, according to the report.

However, Mei said food loss was serious, as more than 12 percent of energy and protein were wasted last year. "We produced enough energy, but we wasted a lot," he said.

The report estimated that the per capita intake of energy, protein, and fat will respectively increase to 2,333 kcal per day, 92 g per day, and 83 g per day, respectively  in 2025, which will be higher than recommended quantities.

"We have obviously too much intake of fat and we need to improve our protein consumption. Our dietary structure and agri-food production system should be optimized in the next five years," he added.