Global Food Crises

Monitoring and assessing impact to inform policy responses.
by Todd Benson, Nicholas Minot, John Pender, Miguel Robles, Joachim von Braun

Describes the data and methods that national and international decisionmakers need to understand the effects of a global food crisis on a country and to alleviate risks and exploit opportunities. Outlines the design and implementation of an open Internet-based portal for sharing reliable, appropriate information and decision-support tools for national policymakers so they can respond quickly to changes in world food markets in an informed manner.
http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/fpr/pr19.asp

>Comments on this post?

Nutrition Information and Consumer Knowledge

The European Food Information Council is holding a (free) webinar on 24 September from 10-12.30 Greenwich Meantime (11- 1.30 on British SummerTime) on consumer knowledge of nutrition information and how they use it:

For those interested in the carbon labelling isue it might be worth listenining in to see if there are any insights that might be relevant . You can find out more and register to attend at: http://www.focusbiz.co.uk/live/eufic/register/


>Comments on this post?

Stores and weight loss

A study found that the presence of big retail stores such as Wal-Mart may promote weight loss among local residents.
"Big boxes and smaller waistlines? Wal-Mart, warehouse clubs, and obesity"
Social Science Research Network 2008; published 4 Sep 2008
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1263316

>Comments on this post?

Healthy Vending Machines?

In the Netherlands, a group of researchers changed the content of vending machines at school. They changed the calory-dense products for less calory-dense products. The research team found that school-aged children started consuming more healthy products. The introduction of labels did not have a significant effect. If you understand Dutch, you can read it in detail here: http://www.automatischgezonder.nl


Comments on this post?

European Nutrition Leadership Programme

The European Nutrition Leadership Programme (ENLP) is a programme which aims to assist the development of future leaders in the field of human nutrition in Europe. During a 1-week course, held annually since 1994, emphasis is placed on understanding the qualities and skills of leadership, team building, communication and the role of nutrition and science in society. This is achieved through a varied and highly interactive programme, which includes role-playing, presentations, discussion groups and talks by leading European nutritionists.

Leadership, team-building and communication are the cornerstones of the ENLP course and training young nutritionists in these fields has generated an active network, which can help to create European approaches in nutrition and health and food safety.

The 30 participants at the programme are selected each year from final year PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, the food industry or government (age 35 or younger) and are all interested and active in food, nutrition and health at large, mainly from Europe. The selection process is undertaken by an international committee based on the individual's application to the ENLP.

If you want to apply visit ENLP How to apply: http://www.enlp.eu.com/en/basic324.html

You should apply before the end of November.

>Comments on this post?

Vacancy in the Food Standards Agency

The Food Standards Agency is looking for a senior nutrition officer to work in central London.

More information available here

>Comments on this post?

New Calls EU 7FP

The new calls of the EU 7 FP Food (call: FP7-KBBE-2009-3). are published. You can find more information on the following website:

http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm?fuseaction=UserSite.FP7DetailsCallPage&call_id=143


Comment on this post?

Commission invites submission of posters for forthcoming conference on School Fruit Scheme

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Commission invites submission of posters for forthcoming conference on School Fruit Scheme

On 8 July 2008, the European Commission presented its proposal for the introduction of an EU-wide School Fruit Scheme (SFS). In order to kick-start the linked networking activities, the Commission is now organising a major conference, bringing together experts from all Member states. This event will take place in Brussels in December 2008. As part of this conference there will be a poster exhibition of best practice models to provide SFS project promoters and stakeholders with examples for establishing or improving a School Fruit Scheme. Interested parties are now invited to submit models as posters for this exhibition. These posters must be designed to deliver 'operational' information in an easily understandable way. The posters will be exhibited during the conference and published on the Europa website.

Full details on how to submit best practice models can be found at http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/markets/fruitveg/sfs/events/conference/index_en.htm

Comment on this post?

Public consultation on a draft Opinion related to Food-Based Dietary Guidelines

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a draft of the document on opinion related to Food-Based Dietary Guidelines and is calling for comments from all interested parties.

More information avaiable on EFSA's website .

Comment on this post?

IFPRI

IFPRI published its 8-point Action Plan for Food Price Crises in a slideshow.

See: IFPRI action points

Vacancies

IAEA is searching for a Nutrition Specialist to join their team at the Nutritional and Health Related Environmental Studies Section at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna. http://recruitment.iaea.org/vacancies/p/2008/2008_031.html
Vacancies: Helen Keller International has various positions open. The job announcements can be found on the HKI website at: http://www.hki.org/about/careers.html.

Specialist Public Health Dietitian/Nutritionist
Notttingham PCT, Nottingham
Closing date: 16 September 2008
http://www.nutritionsociety.org/files/uploads/ecialist_Public_Health_DietitianNutritionist.pdf

Stay Well Programme Co-ordinator
East Potential, Newham, London
http://www.nutritionsociety.org/files/uploads/20080820EastPotentialSWPC.pdf

Community Food and Nutrition Worker
East Potential, Newham, London
Closing date: 3 September 2008
http://www.nutritionsociety.org/files/uploads/20080820EastPotentialCFNW.pdf


Comment on this post?

Nutrient Profiles - EFSA

The European Commission has requested the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to provide relevant scientific advice for the setting of nutrient profiles.

More info on: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_1178689506673.htm

WHO-report: cardiovascular mortality vs CAP

WHO-published research study: Estimating the cardiovascular mortality burden attributable to the European Common Agricultural Policy on dietary saturated fats

A new study in the Bulletin of the World Health Organisation seeks to quantify the impact of CAP subsidies for dairy and meat commodities on cardiovascular mortality. They estimate that these subsidies led to approximately 9800 additional CHD deaths and 3000 additional stroke deaths within the EU, half of them premature. The study notes that these results were robust in the sensitivity analysis and were very conservative estimates, assuming a 1% reduction in saturated fat energy intake, rather than the 5% and 7% observed in Finland and Poland. For more information see http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/86/7/08-053728/en/index.html .

Another article could respond by arguing that the CAP has contributed to the avoidance of x numbers of victims of anaemia/calcium deficiency/Vit B12 deficiency…

For a discussion of the benefits and disbenefits of livestock products in our diet (in the context of climate change) see the FCRN livestock report pp 86-98 http://www.fcrn.org.uk/frcnResearch/index.htm

Comment on this post?

EFSA

EFSA’s Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) has today launched a public consultation on its draft scientific opinion on Food-Based dietary guidelines (FBDG). The Panel’s draft opinion provides scientific advice to the European Commission and Member States on how to approach the translation of general nutrient-based recommendations into specific food consumption recommendations, while taking into account the diversity of the European Union population and different countries.

More information on: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_1211902049848.htm

EFSA’s Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) has today launched a public consultation on its draft general principles for establishing Dietary Reference Values. EFSA is consulting on its draft opinion in order to ensure that the Panel takes into account all available data and benefits from the experience of public health bodies in the European Union (EU) and worldwide in setting Dietary Reference Values for the different nutrients.

More information on: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_1211902049838.htm

protecting children from commercial promotion of foods and beverages

An update on the Sydney Principles for protecting children from commercial promotion of foods and beverages as just been published in the international journal 'Public Health Nutrition' (Public Health Nutrition: 11(9), 881–886).

More information on the topic is available through the link:
www.iotf.org/sydneyprinciples