(Beijing, China, June 17, 2010) The latest scientific research into cardiovascular disease and the role the food industry can play in promoting heart health is the focus of a symposium series that the Quaker Oats Company and PepsiCo are hosting at the World Congress of Cardiology 2010 in Beijing on June 16-19. Quaker is a division of PepsiCo.
This is the first time the World Heart Federation is holding the WCC in China, working in partnership with the Chinese Society of Cardiology and the Chinese Medical Association. A recent article in a journal of the American Heart Association points to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) as an urgent global public health problem that claimed more than 17 million lives in 2004. More then 230 million Chinese have some form of CVD, resulting in an annual toll of 2 million heart attacks, 7 million strokes, and 3 million deaths. The prevalence of risk factors that can lead to future CVD events is staggering, as 200 million Chinese have either high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol, and 350 million are current smokers.
The Quaker symposium at the WCC will bring attendees together to share the latest science associated with reducing CVD risk factors. As part of the symposium, Dr. Mehmood Khan, PepsiCo’s chief scientific officer, will deliver a presentation highlighting the ways PepsiCo is rethinking its product portfolio to offer more food and beverage choices that contribute to healthier living.
“At PepsiCo, we recognize our responsibility to understand the health challenges of populations around the globe and the role we can play in addressing them. We take this responsibility very seriously, which is why we are increasing our use of wholesome and natural ingredients, reducing fat, sodium and sugar content, and actively working with global and local partners to find new ways to encourage healthier lifestyles,” said Dr. Khan.
”As one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, PepsiCo can make a positive impact in helping to reduce the risks of heart disease and stroke. PepsiCo’s research and development activities, combined with the work we’re doing with partners in the scientific and health communities around the world, will support our efforts to promote heart health while also tackling many nutrition challenges that exist today,” said Dr. George Mensah, PepsiCo’s director of heart health and global health policy and chair of the symposium.
The Quaker symposium at the WCC is titled, “Diet, Inflammation & Cardiovascular Risk Reduction.” It will provide a platform to share the latest science on the interaction of diet, physical activity, adiposity, and low-grade inflammation as risk factors for CVD and to discuss ways the food industry can help promote heart health. In addition to Dr Khan and Dr. Mensah, the symposium will also feature two other distinguished experts:
- Dr. Paul Ridker, MD, PhD, FACC
–Eugene Braunwald Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
–Director, Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston
- Dr. Yangfeng Wu MD, PHD
–Director, The George Institute, China
–Director, Center for Evidence Based Medicine, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing
PepsiCo recently announced its commitment to achieving a set of industry-leading global nutrition goals, including:
- Increasing whole grains, fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds and low-fat dairy in its portfolio
- Reducing the average saturated fat per serving in key global food brands in key markets by 15% by 2020
- Reducing the average added sugar per serving in key global beverage brands in key markets by 25% by 2020
- Reducing the average sodium per serving in key global food brands in key markets by 25% by 2015
The company also recently announced that it plans to invest an additional US$2.5 billion in China over the next three years. As part of this investment, PepsiCo plans to broaden its portfolio to provide more food and beverage choices made with wholesome ingredients that contribute to healthier eating and drinking. In order to accelerate expansion of its product portfolio, PepsiCo will build a world-class research and development center in China to develop products for all of Asia.
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About World Congress of Cardiology Science Session Y2010
The World Congress of Cardiology Scientific Sessions is the official congress of the World Heart Federation and is held every two years. This year, WHF is hosting the congress together with the Chinese Society of Cardiology (CSC) and the Chinese Medical Association (CMA).
Through the World Congress of Cardiology, the World Heart Federation offers an international stage for the latest developments in science and public outreach in the field of cardiovascular health. The WCC Scientific Sessions are designed to attract an international audience of cardiologists and allied healthcare professionals from cardiology societies, heart foundations and organizations worldwide.
The World Congress of Cardiology places emphasis on the complementary nature of science and public outreach and strives to spread the message that through individual, community and patient care interventions, the growing epidemic of cardiovascular disease in developing countries can be reduced.
About Quaker
The Quaker Oats Company has been a leading, trusted comfort food for more than 130 years, providing the whole-grain goodness of oats in a delicious breakfast across multiple hot and cold varieties from Quaker Oatmeal to cereals and snack bars such as Quaker Life and Quaker Chewy Granola Bars. The Quaker Oats Company, headquartered in Chicago, is a unit of PepsiCo, Inc., one of the world’s largest consumer packaged good companies. For more information on Quaker Oats and all its products, visit www.QuakerOats.com.
About PepsiCo
At PepsiCo, Performance with Purpose means delivering sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future. As a global food and beverage company with respected brands like Quaker, Tropicana, and Gatorade we are reducing salt, saturated fat and added sugar and increasing the use of whole grains, fruits and vegetables in our global portfolio. By dedicating ourselves to offering a broad array of choices for healthy, convenient and fun nourishment, reducing our environmental impact, and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace culture, PepsiCo balances strong financial returns with giving back to our communities worldwide. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com
