World Food Day - Healthy transition: (Big) Food can take big steps

November 6th, 2013

Each year on 16 October the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations marks World Food Day. One of its objectives is “to strengthen international and national solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty and draw attention to achievements in food and agricultural development” (FAO). 'The focus of this year’s World Food Day is ‘Sustainable Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition’, arguing that good nutrition depends on healthy diets. 

The rise of NCDs 
In low- and middle-income countries and especially emerging economies, a rapid transition from traditional diets to Western-type diets and from home-cooked to processed foods is taking place. Mexicans, for example, now consume around 54% of their calories from processed foods. Also, they have recently surpassed the US in obesity rates. This global shift from under-nutrition towards obesity is taking place rapidly and resulting in a rise of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Four out of five deaths from diet-related NCDs now occur in low- and middle-income countries and their toll of premature deaths and disability is a major impediment to economic and human well-being.  

Bridging the gap
Fortunately these developments are gaining more and more attention from nutrition scientists and policy makers. At the same time this increased concern causes a hardening of positions that are growing public and private players further apart. A clear sign of this is the Lancet publication (NCD Action Group, 2013) in which scientists compare the food with the tobacco industry and discuss concerns about the involvement of ‘Big Food’  and ‘Big Soda’ in public health policy. The latter was highlighted by the Bellagio declaration and signed by a group of internationally renowned nutrition scientists (Obesity reviews, 2013).

The crucial role of food industry
Taking into consideration these sentiments, let us now focus on steps that can and must be taken in mutual cooperation to improve the current state of affairs. Within its own field of expertise the food industry can and does play a crucial role. This is already demonstrated by frontrunners in the food industry, retail and catering who, with the help of independent scientists and governmental support, improve their products and help consumers choose the healthier options, for instance, by conclusive front-of-pack logos. 

The need for broad cooperation
In order to make a real difference, however, increased cooperation is needed between all players: food industry, NGOs, governments, scientists as well as local and global entities. As a multi-stakeholder platform, Choices acknowledges this need and continues to commit itself to bringing together companies, scientists and policy-makers to achieve healthier food systems and wholesome diets. 

Let the World Food Day remind us of the big steps we still need to take towards a healthier global food system! - The Choices International Team 

*Read what Vím, co jím, the Czech Choices Foundation has prepared for the World Food Day here(in Czech).