The following has recently been published by the Food Standards Agency
Scientific Officer, Food Supplements, GM Labelling and GM/Novel Foods Research
This job provides an opportunity to gain experience in both research management and policy issues in relation to GM foods/novel and food supplements.
Reference: 000508
Closing date: 14 November 2008
More information available:
http://www.food.gov.uk/aboutus/jobs/sofoodsupp
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Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
The global burden of disease: 2004 update
WHO published a new assessment of the global burden of disease.
Drawing from extensive data across the Organization, it features comparisons between deaths, diseases and injuries by region, age, sex and country income for the year 2004. It also provides projections of deaths and burden of disease by cause and region to the year 2030.
Striking findings of this update include:
- The top five causes of death in low-income countries are: pneumonia, followed by heart disease, diarrhoea, HIV/AIDS and stroke. In high-income countries, the list is topped by heart disease and followed by stroke, lung cancer, pneumonia, and asthma/bronchitis.
- Men between the ages of 15 and 60 years have much higher risks of dying than women in the same age category in every region of the world. This, is mainly due to injuries, including those caused in violence and conflict, and to higher levels of heart diseases. This difference is most pronounced in Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and the eastern European regions.
- Depression is the leading cause of years lost due to disability, the burden being 50% higher for females than males. In both low- and middle-income countries, and high-income countries, alcohol dependence and problem use are among the 10 leading causes of disability.
- Under-nutrition is the underlying cause of death for at least 30% of all children under age five
This study provides an important input for health decision making, planning and priority setting.
More information available: http://www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/2004_report_update/en/
>Comments on this post?
Drawing from extensive data across the Organization, it features comparisons between deaths, diseases and injuries by region, age, sex and country income for the year 2004. It also provides projections of deaths and burden of disease by cause and region to the year 2030.
Striking findings of this update include:
- The top five causes of death in low-income countries are: pneumonia, followed by heart disease, diarrhoea, HIV/AIDS and stroke. In high-income countries, the list is topped by heart disease and followed by stroke, lung cancer, pneumonia, and asthma/bronchitis.
- Men between the ages of 15 and 60 years have much higher risks of dying than women in the same age category in every region of the world. This, is mainly due to injuries, including those caused in violence and conflict, and to higher levels of heart diseases. This difference is most pronounced in Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and the eastern European regions.
- Depression is the leading cause of years lost due to disability, the burden being 50% higher for females than males. In both low- and middle-income countries, and high-income countries, alcohol dependence and problem use are among the 10 leading causes of disability.
- Under-nutrition is the underlying cause of death for at least 30% of all children under age five
This study provides an important input for health decision making, planning and priority setting.
More information available: http://www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/2004_report_update/en/
>Comments on this post?
Salt content of breakfast
New research carried out by Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH) has found that many foods commonly eaten for breakfast have large amounts of hidden salt.
CASH surveyed over 200 breakfast items from June – October 2008. Information was collected through a combination of product labels, customer services and company websites where nutritional information was not available on the label.
Breakfast options included breakfast cereals and milk, toast and spreads, traditional English and cooked breakfasts, croissants and pastries, muffins and hot rolls.
The survey showed that a traditional Full English fry-up can contain as much as 6g of salt – the limit for an adult for the whole day in a single sitting.
More information available on: http://www.actiononsalt.org.uk/
>Comments on this post?
CASH surveyed over 200 breakfast items from June – October 2008. Information was collected through a combination of product labels, customer services and company websites where nutritional information was not available on the label.
Breakfast options included breakfast cereals and milk, toast and spreads, traditional English and cooked breakfasts, croissants and pastries, muffins and hot rolls.
The survey showed that a traditional Full English fry-up can contain as much as 6g of salt – the limit for an adult for the whole day in a single sitting.
More information available on: http://www.actiononsalt.org.uk/
>Comments on this post?
Friday, October 24, 2008
Poor choices: The limits of competitive markets in the provision of essential services to low income consumers
A major study of the problems faced by the poor in the market for seven essential services in the UK - energy, food, housing, water, telecoms, transport, and financial services - has been published and it's available for download:
Poor choices: The limits of competitive markets in the provision of essential services to low income consumers
The chapter on food was writen by Dr Tim Lobstein and can be found on pages 23-46.
>Comments on this post?
Poor choices: The limits of competitive markets in the provision of essential services to low income consumers
The chapter on food was writen by Dr Tim Lobstein and can be found on pages 23-46.
>Comments on this post?
Monday, October 20, 2008
Vacancy - Higher Scientific Officer, Food Signposting, Nutrition Division
The following has recently been published by the Food Standards Agency
Higher Scientific Officer, Food Signposting, Nutrition Division
FSA is looking for someone who has the necessary scientific and technical skills to help support the Agency's work on a range of nutrition labelling issues, including signpost labelling.
Reference: 000504
Salary: £26,840 - £34,289 pa
Location: Central London
Closing date: 31 October 2008
More information is available here
>Comments on this post?
Higher Scientific Officer, Food Signposting, Nutrition Division
FSA is looking for someone who has the necessary scientific and technical skills to help support the Agency's work on a range of nutrition labelling issues, including signpost labelling.
Reference: 000504
Salary: £26,840 - £34,289 pa
Location: Central London
Closing date: 31 October 2008
More information is available here
>Comments on this post?
World Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy - 16 October, World Food Day
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations celebrates World Food Day each year on 16 October, the day on which the Organization was founded in 1945.
In an effort to raise awareness about the current food crisis and the various challenges brought to the food chain due for example to Global warming and the biofuel boom, this year's theme was "World Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy".
More information is available here
>Comments on this post?
In an effort to raise awareness about the current food crisis and the various challenges brought to the food chain due for example to Global warming and the biofuel boom, this year's theme was "World Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy".
More information is available here
>Comments on this post?
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Food prices and pesticides report
England Marketing completed a new study, commissioned by the Crop Protection Association, that looks at the potential social impact of food price rises. The study relates specifically to the EU proposal to to replace the current directive on the authorisations of pesticides. Recent reports by ADAS and Cranfield University respectively have argue that the introduction of new pesticide regulations would a significantly
a. reduce crop yields and
b. raise food prices.
The report is entitled Playing Politics with our Food? Research into the Social Impacts of European Legislation-Induced Increases in Food Prices and can be downloaded here: www.englandmarketing.co.uk/reports.htm.
Note that the report does not look at all at the environmental/health rationale for changing the regulations on pesticide use nor at what current food prices would be if the environmental and health exernalities of pesticide use (and other inputs) were internalised in the cost of the food. For a different take on the EU proposals see the Pesticides Action Network website - http://www.pan-europe.info/
Thanks to the Food Climate Research Network - mailinglist.
>Comments on this post?
a. reduce crop yields and
b. raise food prices.
The report is entitled Playing Politics with our Food? Research into the Social Impacts of European Legislation-Induced Increases in Food Prices and can be downloaded here: www.englandmarketing.co.uk/reports.htm.
Note that the report does not look at all at the environmental/health rationale for changing the regulations on pesticide use nor at what current food prices would be if the environmental and health exernalities of pesticide use (and other inputs) were internalised in the cost of the food. For a different take on the EU proposals see the Pesticides Action Network website - http://www.pan-europe.info/
Thanks to the Food Climate Research Network - mailinglist.
>Comments on this post?
Friday, October 3, 2008
Call for internship applications at the WHO
The World Health Organization Headquarters, Geneva is accepting applications for internships for the Non Communicable diseases and mental health cluster(NMH).
The NMH Cluster includes the following departments: Chronic Disease and Health Promotion, (in which the activities for the implementation of the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health are included), Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Nutrition for Health and Development, Tobacco Free Initiative, Violence and Injury Prevention and Disability.
The deadline to submitting applications is the 31st October.
Basic information copied from the vacancy notice is provided below, further details can be found through these links:
- Vacancy notice
- WHO internships
Title: Internship - NMH Winter 2008 2009
Grade: P level
Contract type: Internship
Duration of contract: 6 - 12 weeks
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME:
The WHO internship programme has three objectives: (a) to provide a framework for assigning students from diverse academic backgrounds to WHO programmes, where educational experience can be enhanced through practical work assignments; (b) to expose students to the work of WHO and (c) to provide WHO programmes with the assistance of students specializing in various fields. Most students are placed in health-related programmes, although other disciplines can be considered as appropriate.
Description of duties:
Under the supervision of a professional in the department concerned, interns typically contribute to some or all of the following responsibilities:
- review literature
- undertake research in a particular subject area
- collate information on topics related to the subject area
- organize data and documents
- develop tools and guidelines
- draft reports
- participate in on-going departmental projects
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
Minimum of three years university studies, ideally a first degree, in medical or social science or a field related to the technical work of WHO. The intern must be a student during the internship. Additionally there are limited possibilities for students from disciplines such as Information Technology, Media Relations, Human Resources, Business Administration and/or Public Administration.
Skills:
All interns should possess the following skills in line with the WHO core competencies:
- Communicating effectively orally and in writing
- Showing willingness to learn from mistakes
- Producing and delivering quality results
- Working collaboratively with team members
- Respecting and promoting difference
In addition, interns need to be familiar with commonly used computer programmes, such as Word, Excel, Powerpoint. Knowledge of specialized computer programmes may be an advantage.
Experience:
Experience in research and in drafting reports would be preferred. Experience in the subject area through academic work or research would be an advantage.
Field and/or developing country experience would be an advantage.
More specific experience such as statistics or specialized computer programmes may be needed for some internships.
Languages:
Interns should have a good working knowledge or English and/or French and should possess some knowledge of the other.
Knowledge of other UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish) would be an advantage.
Additional Information:
Please note that internships at WHO are very competitive and only a small number of applicants will be accepted every year. Only successful candidates will be contacted.
Interns must be minimum 20 years of age and be enrolled in a course of study leading to a formal qualification (graduate or post-graduate) to be eligible for the program. All internships at WHO are unpaid and full-time.
WHO accepts no responsibility for medical insurance of interns or costs arising from illness incurred during an internship.
Interns are NOT eligible for appointment to any position in WHO for a period of three months following the end of the internship.
Comments on this post?
The NMH Cluster includes the following departments: Chronic Disease and Health Promotion, (in which the activities for the implementation of the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health are included), Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Nutrition for Health and Development, Tobacco Free Initiative, Violence and Injury Prevention and Disability.
The deadline to submitting applications is the 31st October.
Basic information copied from the vacancy notice is provided below, further details can be found through these links:
- Vacancy notice
- WHO internships
Title: Internship - NMH Winter 2008 2009
Grade: P level
Contract type: Internship
Duration of contract: 6 - 12 weeks
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME:
The WHO internship programme has three objectives: (a) to provide a framework for assigning students from diverse academic backgrounds to WHO programmes, where educational experience can be enhanced through practical work assignments; (b) to expose students to the work of WHO and (c) to provide WHO programmes with the assistance of students specializing in various fields. Most students are placed in health-related programmes, although other disciplines can be considered as appropriate.
Description of duties:
Under the supervision of a professional in the department concerned, interns typically contribute to some or all of the following responsibilities:
- review literature
- undertake research in a particular subject area
- collate information on topics related to the subject area
- organize data and documents
- develop tools and guidelines
- draft reports
- participate in on-going departmental projects
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
Minimum of three years university studies, ideally a first degree, in medical or social science or a field related to the technical work of WHO. The intern must be a student during the internship. Additionally there are limited possibilities for students from disciplines such as Information Technology, Media Relations, Human Resources, Business Administration and/or Public Administration.
Skills:
All interns should possess the following skills in line with the WHO core competencies:
- Communicating effectively orally and in writing
- Showing willingness to learn from mistakes
- Producing and delivering quality results
- Working collaboratively with team members
- Respecting and promoting difference
In addition, interns need to be familiar with commonly used computer programmes, such as Word, Excel, Powerpoint. Knowledge of specialized computer programmes may be an advantage.
Experience:
Experience in research and in drafting reports would be preferred. Experience in the subject area through academic work or research would be an advantage.
Field and/or developing country experience would be an advantage.
More specific experience such as statistics or specialized computer programmes may be needed for some internships.
Languages:
Interns should have a good working knowledge or English and/or French and should possess some knowledge of the other.
Knowledge of other UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish) would be an advantage.
Additional Information:
Please note that internships at WHO are very competitive and only a small number of applicants will be accepted every year. Only successful candidates will be contacted.
Interns must be minimum 20 years of age and be enrolled in a course of study leading to a formal qualification (graduate or post-graduate) to be eligible for the program. All internships at WHO are unpaid and full-time.
WHO accepts no responsibility for medical insurance of interns or costs arising from illness incurred during an internship.
Interns are NOT eligible for appointment to any position in WHO for a period of three months following the end of the internship.
Comments on this post?
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