Finding something on the menu that is safe to eat is proving difficult these days. Prime US beef is tainted by mad cow disease, chicken by another outbreak of avian flu and the civet cat by Sars. It is no surprise that more individuals are considering a switch to healthier diets. Perhaps investors, too, might want to consider some virus-proofing of their portfolio - last year's Sars outbreak showed that unpredictable outbreaks can send the best-laid plans and investment strategies out the window. Not everyone has a strong enough constitution to buy on the dips, or hold on for the ride - the policy that worked so well during the Sars outbreak. And arbitraging chicken producers in Hong Kong or Korea from Thailand can be a risky strategy in these days of globalised epidemics. Perhaps dropping a meat-heavy Atkins-style portfolio altogether and adding a few greens is worth contemplating. The most radical step is the purely vegan diet, under which the aptly named China Green (Holdings) might be worth considering. The recently listed, Fujian-based company is purely focused on vegetable and fruit production, exporting predominantly for the fastidious Japanese palate. In a similar field, is Chaoda Modern Agriculture (Holdings), where comfort can be taken from the fact that it is an organic producer. If you still need some protein in your portfolio, Hong Kong's Vitasoy International Holdings has a growing tofu business in the United States in addition to its better known tea and soya milk business. These plain beancurd assets might now have greater appeal. The halfway house for any vegetarian is to drop the meat and keep some fish in their diet. Here, fish trader Pacific Andes International Holdings stands out as one of the largest frozen fish suppliers in the world, trawling for and processing cod fillets from China to South America. And its catch does not include the allegedly toxic farm-raised salmon, while any lingering lead content should at least take a few years to take effect. While noodles and rice are not a substitute for chicken or beef in one's diet, they should remain safe. Stock market exposure to noodles comes through Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding Corp, China's largest noodle company, while plain rice comes via Golden Resources Development International, a locally listed major importer and packager of rice. A bit more variety comes from Heng Tai Consumables Group, which distributes a range of packet dry foods and vegetables in China. If prevention is not possible, then there is always the cure. One sector that always welcomes these incessant flows of epidemics is pharmaceuticals. There are numerous locally listed companies here, the biggest being China Pharmaceutical Group. If removing meat from one's diet and raiding the medicine cabinet does not work, there is also the option of easing those worries with a drink. Beer, too, has benefits in moderation. Diseases and viruses are unlikely to derail China's thirst so following western breweries into the likes of Tsingtao Brewery or Guangdong Brewery Holdings might not be a bad idea. But of course, the caveat must be that hopefully these outbreaks will not get out of hand. If they do, glib discussions of portfolios or new diets will be the least of one's worries. HEALTHY HOLDINGS Chaoda Modern Agriculture China Green Vitasoy Tingyi Pacific Andes Golden Resources Heng Tai China Pharmaceutical Tsingtao Brewery Guangdong Brewery