Dear Sir/Madam
Food adulteration is one of the biggest issues especially in poor countries where there is no check and balance by the government. Food adulteration does not only decrease the nutritional value but it also causes different hazardous diseases to humans and causes deaths. I suggest the FAO to help the poor nations in this regard and make uniform guidelines how to decrease food adulteration and increase food quality, thanks.
Dr. Amanullah
79.Claudio Schuftan, PHM, Viet Nam (third contribution)
This time I will respond to the postings of the Belgian Food and Beverage Alliance and BASF, both, I would think, with an ‘axe to grind’ (or a vested interest?).
We all have, including most contributors, an ‘axe to grind’; but ours is in the public interest… We have in common that we are critical of, but not private sector bashers. We look at what is happening with conflicts of interest (CoI) in public private partnerships (PPPs), in free trade agreement (FTAs), in multistakeholder platforms (the latter praised and called for by the two postings I comment on)… and what is the common denominator? An increasing interference in public decision-making. That is not acceptable to us defenders of the public interest. Unless the multiple CoI issue is addressed face-on with no more ‘go-arounds’, PPPs, multistakeholder platforms and FTAs are to remain in quarantine.
To the Alliance, I further say that “behaviour change promoting change and raising awareness of the importance of good nutrition among all consumers through public education campaigns” over-and-over puts the responsibility on the individual when we all know that the advertising and price structure of ultra-processed foods is the real culprit of over-nutrition and associated NCDs that the industry wants us to ignore. Furthermore, claiming that “Experience has shown that collaborative multistakeholder actions represent not only one of the most cost-effective ways to address public health challenges, but are, in fact, the only way to tackle these global complex issues” is a gratuitous assertion not backed by facts. If you do not believe me, look at the SUN Initiative.
To our BASF colleague, I further say that claiming that “fortifying staple foods is one of the most cost-effective interventions to tackle hidden hunger” may be true but the key question is how sustainable (except for iodine), as opposed to community-based, food-based interventions together with stern economic disparity reduction measures resolving the problems of poverty. BASF also not only thinks that “promoting consumer awareness regarding nutrition” is key --see my comment above--, but also thinks “it can be done best by the (critical, they say) engagement of multiple stakeholders (in the said platforms?)” --see my comment above. Moreover, together with many, I do not see that “building local multi-stakeholder alliances can be supported by Fora such as UNSCN which can help strengthen private and public actors’ networks”. Well, this is not exactly the role of a UN body committed to the objectives of the Decade and is not “an important contribution to a sustainable improvement of nutrition that is cost-effective and scalable”. If you do not believe me, look at the ample literature on food sovereignty by La Via Campesina.
Claudio Schuftan, Ho Chi Minh City
80.Apio Benardate Okiria, FHI360, Uganda
Greetings.
The following is my contribution to the subject of discussion.
What are your expectations for the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition and how could it make a significant difference in improving nutrition and food security of the people in your country within the next 10 years?
1. I expect funding of the Uganda Nutrition Fellowship in this decade. That NGOs implementing Nutrition especially directly commit to a program that builds capacity of recent graduates in soft skills. These young nutritionists bring on board great enthusiasm and creativity towards achieving goals.
2. I expect increased advocacy in nutrition both funded and voluntarily. This advocacy should mostly involve rallying the public so as to drive demand for nutrition services from the government. Public demand I believe enables achieve political attention from which we could get champions for nutrition with minimum efforts.
3. I expect the government of Uganda to strengthen and sustain the multi sector approach for Nutrition that has seen integration of nutrition into sector activities initiated by USAID Uganda. This integration has achieved evidently, if consistently strengthened has potential to reduce rates of malnutrition in the country. Of course, effectively and efficiently. Less money wasted, more to save!
How can other relevant forums, such as the CFS and UNSCN, contribute, and how can other movements (e.g. human rights, environment) be involved in the Decade?
They should create or support platforms like the Uganda Nutrition Fellowship more extensively in various countries as a contribution to building capacity of future nutrition leaders who would take up the nutrition agenda further even after the decade.
Apio Benardate Okiria,
Uganda Nutrition Fellowship.
USAID FANTA project.
81.Ateca Kama, National Food and Nutrition Centre, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Fiji
Declaring the Decade is a great start to maximising concerted efforts in nutrition. It provides an ovearching platform for nutrition interventions and advocacy. However, we need to localize global concepts and contexts to suit the needs of our smaller island nations; and we'll need technical support and expertise.
Fiji is currently revising its Fiji Food and Nutrition Policy, that will be operationalized by the Fiji Plan of Action for Nutrition 2016-2020. We have already gleaned from international documents to provide the framework for interventions, with the focus being children U5. Some of the activities are funded by the Government, while others will be taken care of by donor funds.
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