Such is the key idea of a food exhibit in Kyiv

Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what’s eating you. This paraphrase is popular with dietitians and this simple truth has long been recognized in countries where people live prosperously [particularly in North America and Japan), with powerful health food industries. Compared to these countries, food treatment and preventive diet in Ukraine look like a baby just learning to walk, although here (considering our bouquet of Chornobyl and other ecological problems, declining average life span, dwindling population, troglodyte level of health care, and the dominance of fake and inferior quality foods) health food sounds like a life belt to a man thrown overboard and not knowing how to swim.

In fact, such was the idea of the first exhibition called Food and Life in the Twenty-First Century held late last week. Forty Ukrainian and foreign manufacturers submitted their products displayed on more than 100 sq. meters, boasting the health industry’s versatility: biologically active additives, curative and health-building foods, herbal preparations, special products for children and athletes, food ingredients and packaging, new treatment methods and progressive output technologies,

The staff tried to convince the visitors that by complimenting their usual diet with such health foods and natural biologically active additives (see photo) they will cleanse their system of radionuclides and toxins, normalize their vital functions, and strengthen their immune system — which is especially important facing a cold and flue-fraught winter. Many Ukrainians might want to partake of health food, but more often than not they have to choose between health food and regular food. Statistically, some 70% of the people are underfed, with the average food basket of this country, once known as a major world granary, steadily depleting (shortage of animal proteins being uppermost). The so-called hidden famine has become a cruel reality, reports Oleksandr FANDEYEV, The Day.