Way back in the Chou dynasty, China had food officials responsible for the health of the common people. In the Tang dynasty, the famous physician Sun Sze-miao said: "Whenever a physician seeks to heal, he should start by adjusting the diet, and only if dietary means fail should he prescribe drugs."
中國遠在周朝時，就已設置食官來掌管百姓的健康；唐代名醫孫思邈也說：「凡醫治病，應先以食治立，食療不癒，然後命藥。」