The nation's first nutrition regulation is expected to take effect by the end of this year, requiring kindergartens, schools, large restaurants and company cafeterias that serve more than 100 people to hire a trained nutritionist.

Neighborhood committees should also hire a nutrition director to lecture residents about eating properly.

The China Nutrition Association has finished a draft of the regulation and passed it along to the Ministry of Health for approval.

The new rule would create 15,000 jobs for licensed nutritionists in Shanghai, which currently only has 300 certified nutritionists, most of who work in hospitals and kindergartens.

To solve the shortage, the Shanghai Nutrition Association launched a two-month course in July, providing training for a nutritionist license from the Shanghai Labor and Social Security Bureau.

"We introduced the training in line with this new rule. The 70-odd trainees are mainly from kindergartens, and the cafeterias of big companies, but some are just ordinary people," said Xuan Peiying, an official with the Shanghai Nutrition Association, which plans to train 6,600 nutritionists over the next two to three years.

Dr Li Mingyue of Baogang Hospital's nutrition department, said nutrition guidance is very important as a growing number of people don't eat a balanced diet.

"Many diseases like diabetes, hypertension and gout are all due to improper diet," Li said. "Nutritionists can teach housewives and give direction to schools, restaurants and cafeterias so they can make delicious but nutritious food."

Some kindergartens have already hired nutritionists, a move many parents are impressed with.

(Shanghai Daily August 16, 2005)