Food for Thought on World Food Day

“Today is World Food Day, 16th October. However, why does malnutrition and obesity coexist in Australia in 2013, when we should have one of the best food systems in the world?” asks Associate Professor Heather Yeatman, of the University of Wollongong and President of the PHAA.
“Two of every three adults are overweight or obese and at risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes and related health problems and many Australians are malnourished because they don’t have access to a healthy diet. This is unacceptable and there are few signs of improvement unless we make important changes now.”
The consensus at the recent 2013 annual conference of the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) in Melbourne was that “all Australians deserve ‘a fair go’ for health underpinned by a safe, nutritious, affordable, secure and environmentally sustainable food and nutrition system, that also aims to reduce social health inequities. There is urgent action needed. People with the poorest wealth have the worst health in this country. Non communicable disease and food insecurity are real threats to our health and prosperity.”
According to Professor Yeatman, “The three main messages are:
(1) Good nutrition and health depend on safe food and healthy diets;
(2) Healthy diets require healthy food systems (with education, sanitation and other factors); and
(3) Healthy food systems are made possible by appropriate policies, incentives and governance”
We need to develop sustainable food systems that produces nutritious diets for all people today, while also protecting the capacity of future generations to feed themselves. Eating a healthy diet can support a sustainable food system, as they both focus on more plant-based products, less animal products, sufficient clean water and less highly processed foods. The PHAA Future for Food 2 document outlines the issues.
Australia’s food system should have nutrition as a primary objective. At present the Australian government’s National Food Plan is at risk of being known as driving a catastrophic food system failure. Michael Moore CEO of the Public Health Association says that: “Consumers can do their part by choosing healthy diets and minimizing food waste. However, food industry and government need to consider the consequences of the National Food Plan policy. Instead of health and well-being of the population and the environment it drives for premium prices in trade (p6, 49), increased productivity (by 30% with fewer inputs) (p90), and minimum regulation (pg48 and 50)“
Mr Moore argues that “Australia currently has a fairly robust food system but it is failing to support health. Governments need to act to ensure that we have an integrated approach that produces positive health and environmental outcomes”.
The United Nations World Food Day Call for Action can be accessed at:
http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/getinvolved/images/WFD_issues_paper_2013_web_EN.pdf
The Australian Food Policy including the National Food Plan can be accessed:
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-pubhlth-strateg-foodpolicy-foodpolicy.htm
The Public Health Association of Australia’s Future for Food 2 plan can be accessed:
http://www.phaa.net.au/documents/120214%20PHAA%20Report%202012_low%20res.pdf