News & Events

Fifth, fourth and first from right:  Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, Professor Jean  Pierre Poulain and Professor Dr Mohd Ismail Noor

In the presence of the Malaysian Minister of Health, Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, a launch event was held at Taylor’s University with the objective to generate a pool of expertise, facilities and material resources to study the links between diet and health for and from the perspective of Euro-Asian populations.

Dr Subramaniam stressed in his welcome address the importance of academia in finding solutions that address the increasing problem of obesity and diabetes in Malaysia. Through the effort of Professor Dr Jean Pierre Poulain, Chair of Food Studies at Taylor’s University and dean of ISTHIA (School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts) at Université Toulouse – Jean Jaurès, a study on the social cultural context of feeding practices and their developments on a national scale was published in the Malaysian Food Barometer (2013).There are plans to introduce this Food Barometer research to other Asian countries.

Professor Dr Mohd Ismail Noor from Taylor’s University is a member of the ARoFIIN network. He plans to work with ARoFIIN on projects concerning obesity, providing nutrition profiles for targeted population groups, as well as the prevention of malnutrition in ASEAN countries.