Research on modifying factors of responsible product innovation for Healthy Food

April 24th, 2015

Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR) in cooperation with the Dutch Choices foundation has obtained financial support from the Dutch Research Organisation NWO to study the motivation of food producers and the role of modifying factors on the product innovation agenda. A first PhD student will study the perceived responsibility of companies to promote public health and the actions they take to act responsible in relation to food and health. The motivations for responsible innovation towards healthier food will be studied and the influence of healthy food promoting initiatives, like the Dutch Choices Initiative, NGO actions or governmental campaigns, will be investigated. A second PhD student will study the innovation process on product level and studies the influence of several stimuli, like stricter criteria for a health logo, on the innovation agenda. 

Dr. Vincent Blok of WUR will lead the project, which will study the factors stimulating or hampering responsible innovation by food producers. The most influencing factors on the innovation agenda will be analysed in order to develop guidelines how food producers can successfully innovate in a responsible manner to improve public health. Dr. Léon Jansen of the Dutch Choices Foundation will contribute to the research by delivering data, practical insights, analyses, and contacts with producers.

Diana Monissen new president of the Dutch Choices Foundation

April 10th, 2015

The Dutch Choices Foundation ‘Ik Kies Bewust’ has appointed their new president last board meeting at the end of March. Diana Monissen takes over this role from Clémence Ross. Ross resigned in the autumn of 2014 and is currently the president of the Choices International Board. Teun Verheij has temporarily taken over the presidency and will hand over his tasks to the new president the coming months. Diana Monissen has broad experience in the health and healthcare sector. She is the president of the board of healthcare insurance company De Friesland till June 2015 and fulfils the same position at the Princess Maxima center for Child Oncology. 

About her appointment, Monissen says: “I am very excited to make an effort for ‘het Vinkje’. From a broad CSR point of view I can see that also in healthcare healthy food becomes more and more important, next to for instance physical activity. People choose for a healthy lifestyle more often and are more aware of the effects of healthy food. ‘Ik Kies Bewust’ plays an important role therein“

Consumer Goods Forum pushes reformulation

March 5th, 2015

Paris, 5 March 2015. The Consumer Goods Forum said today that in 2014 their members have reformulated more than 22,500 products to contribute to healthier diets. The Consumer Goods Forum is the global network of more than 400 of the largest retailers and brand manufacturers around the world. Choices International is one of its non-business members. Its Health & Wellness Resolutions aim at driving the members companies to positive action and to actively contribute to the health of billions of people around the globe. The 2014 progress report on these Resolutions shows that reformulation is seen as one of the key areas. And that collaboration with multiple stakeholders is necessary to activating initiatives. The Health & Wellness program commits to an industry wide and consistent food product labelling and to stop targeted advertising to children under 12 by 2018 for products that do not fulfil certain nutrition criteria.

More can be found at http://www.theconsumergoodsforum.com/survey-shows-retailers-and-manufacturers-united-in-commitment-to-a-healthier-society