Nutrition Opportunities Worldwide’s Post

A majority of European consumers (65%) believe that ultra-processed food items are unhealthy and will cause health issues later in life, according to a new study conducted by the EIT Food Food Consumer Observatory. Moreover, many consumers are confused and uncertain about the extent to which their food is processed, both over- and underestimating how processed various food items are. Klaus G. Grunert, professor at Denmark’s Aarhus University and director of the EIT Food Consumer Observatory, said, “The latest findings from the EIT Food Consumer Observatory demonstrate a clear knowledge gap in how consumers identify, understand and engage with how their food is produced.” #Europe #food #health #labelling #UPFs https://lnkd.in/eT_fW2Z5

”The Ultra-Processed Food industry, and especially its leading corporations, coordinate a global network of interest groups spanning multiple levels, jurisdictions, and governance spaces. This represents a major structural feature of global food and health governance systems, which arguably poses major challenges for actions to attenuate the harms of UPFs, and to realising of healthy and sustainable food systems.” #health #mentalhealth #chronicdiseases #metabolichealth #liverhealth #nafld #inflammation #obesity #diabetes #insulinresistance #lifestylemedicine #healthyfood #healthyhabits #foodasmedicine #junkfood #upf #sugar #nutrition #addiction #foodadditives

"Global food systems and human dietary patterns have shifted significantly in the past decades. Africa is now undergoing a nutrition transition — with the shift from traditional diets composed of minimally processed foods towards low-quality diets laden with unhealthy foods. Paradoxically, these trends are leading to increases in both undernutrition and obesity, known as the ‘double burden of malnutrition’. These nutrient-poor but cheap and increasingly accessible foods are contributing to rapidly rising rates of diet-related non-communicable diseases. By 2030, it is projected that deaths from diet-related diseases will surpass those from infectious diseases in Africa.   Alongside increasing malnutrition is the degradation of natural ecosystems. The production of unhealthy and processed foods is creating significant pressure on natural ecosystems through exploitative and unsustainable land-use practices, resulting in a vicious cycle between climate change and unhealthy foods. These changes are promoting or further exacerbating social and economic inequities. Already vulnerable populations, including women and children, are disproportionately impacted by the health and environmental burdens resulting from inadequate and inequitable global food systems. Taking a systems approach, however, allows us to see promising opportunities to leverage the power of food systems to improve population health and build more resilient environments." The Catalyzing Change for Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems (CCHeFS) initiative aims to enhance the health of the most vulnerable populations by taking a food systems approach to improving the competitiveness of nutritious and sustainable foods in Africa, relative to unhealthy foods. We have loved working with their diverse and energetic team over the last two years, to support them in their learning and transformative journey. It is such important work for the continent. Follow their work at https://lnkd.in/dNpqH3q7

Education is the key to the adoption of plant-based diets in China! 🌱 This is the key takeaway from a survey of over 1,000 Chinese consumers commissioned by ProVeg Asia, which found that once consumers learn about the benefits of eating more plant-based foods, almost all are willing to do so. The research has been used to fuel ProVeg Asia’s latest report, ‘Plant-based eating in China: attitudes and opportunities’, which examines the extent to which Chinese people have embraced plant-based food. 🔍 Highlights include: - The cultural and economic factors driving this transformation. - Top barriers to consuming more plant-based foods. - Profiles: who to target when marketing plant-based foods.  - Opportunities for food industry professionals. Head to the New Food hub for a breakdown of the report’s key findings and recommendations: https://lnkd.in/gdpth4x5 For a deep dive of the data, find the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eyNZt__g #ProVeg #NewFoodHub #China #Asia #ChineseConsumers #PlantBased

🥗In Viet Nam, a study conducted by the CGIAR Research Initiative on Sustainable Healthy Diets through Food Systems Transformation reveals insights into adolescent food environments, emphasizing the necessity for accessible, healthy dietary choices. With over 3,000 adolescents surveyed across diverse urban and rural landscapes, the research uncovers a troubling reality: the majority of these young individuals face a food environment brimming with unhealthy options, significantly challenging their ability to maintain a high-quality diet. Despite a lower consumption of unhealthy foods, the omnipresent availability of sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods, especially in urban areas, underscores an urgent need for interventions. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ezsEQpr7 #HealthyDiets #Diet

Country-Level Reports from Smart Protein Project! 🚀 Following the pan-European Smart Protein report's success, we at ProVeg International have taken a deeper dive into the data, and we are happy to announce the launch of 10 country-level reports. 🔍 Deep Dive Insights: From Germany to Italy, and from France to Romania, these reports uncover the nuances of plant-based eating across Europe, revealing a universally positive outlook tinged with unique challenges and opportunities in each country. All reports can be downloaded here: https://lnkd.in/dp3Hf9NP 🌱 Key Highlights: - Meat Reduction Leadership: See why Germany, Austria, France, and Italy are leading the pack with over 50% of consumers cutting down on meat. - Motivation for Change: Discover how health concerns in Romania and Italy, animal welfare in Germany and the Netherlands, and environmental factors in Denmark and the Netherlands are driving dietary changes. - Dietary Shifts: Learn the how and why of the significant move towards plant-based diets in Austria, the Netherlands, Romania, and Germany. - Plant-Based Preferences: Uncover diverse tastes across Europe, from legume lovers in Spain and Italy to plant-based meat enthusiasts in the UK and the Netherlands. 💡 Strategic Insights for the Future: - Tailor Products and Messages: Customize your approach to align with regional tastes and motivations. - Innovate for Local Tastes: Create products like Southern Europe's favored legumes or the UK and the Netherlands' preferred plant-based meats. - Utilize Trusted Information Channels: Engage with audiences through the most credible sources in each region. - Focus on Affordability and Taste: Address the primary barriers to adoption, particularly in markets with significant concerns like the UK. 📢 Join Our Webinar Series: Want to get an even closer look at these insights? This is a fantastic opportunity to engage directly with the data, learn best practices, and discuss strategies for navigating the plant-based market landscape successfully. Don't miss out on these enriching discussions that could shape the future of food. Sing up today: https://lnkd.in/e8BA_Bje Whether your goal is to broaden your plant-based initiatives or tailor them to the unique needs of each specific European market, these initiatives are designed to equip you with the essential knowledge to facilitate and accelerate the plant-based shift in these countries. 🌍💼 #ProVegInternational #SmartProtein #PlantBasedFuture

Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Food Systems Governance programme FAO Rikolto collaborating to substantively share knowledge, draw awareness and spotlight learning pathways to grow and deepen evidence base, spark innovation and enhance initiatives for #inclusive #equitable local and traditional food #markets + public #foodprocurement #governance

🍽️ 🌍 | 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 & 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 I wanted to share a great article that examines the critical impact of quality food choices on health outcomes and the importance of availability and access. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞: The disparities in food access. 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘸-𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘥𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩-𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘰𝘸-𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘴. Although I don't fully believe that meat and animal-based foods should be removed from our diet, I support efforts to educate us on moving away from the over-processed junk food that fills much of America. As someone with a genuine interest in health and nutrition, I hope we can see more work being done to promote access to high-quality, nutritious food for all and remove the toxic foods that dominate our diets. 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬? Focus on two things ....Eat healthy and constantly work to improve your #healthliteracy, and you'll be well on your way. #HealthyChoices #FoodSustainability #Nutrition #PublicHealth #FoodAccess #SustainableLiving #HealthDisparities #HealthEquity #PatientAdvocacy

A new study by ProVeg International, “Plant-based eating in China: attitudes and opportunities,” found that 98% of Chinese consumers are willing to eat more plant-based foods after learning about their health benefits. The Kantar Group’s survey, targeting 1,000 people in major cities, revealed a positive response among primarily omnivores and flexitarians. Dao Foods highlights China as a key market for alternative proteins, noting increasing investments by leading food companies in health-conscious and environmentally sustainable products. Read the study here: https://lnkd.in/eyNZt__g

Accurate household-level measurement of large-scale food fortification (LSFF) coverage is fraught with challenges, but there are ways to help overcome these. DataDENT is currently working with GAIN to refine LSFF coverage questions included in the Fortification Assessment Coverage Toolkit (FACT) to increase their potential for use in larger recurring household surveys. Key aims of the collaboration include: ·   To test and refine the minimum set of questions needed to generate fortification coverage indicators that can be added to multi-topic household surveys ·   To facilitate improvements in estimating the coverage of fortified foods when based on linkages between data on household consumption of fortified foods and data on fortification status (i.e., confirmed presence of added micronutrients) from other sources DataDENT will share lessons, findings, and guidance from formative research in Ethiopia and Bangladesh to support uptake of the questions in the upcoming DHS-9 process and other global and national survey programs. Check out our latest DataDENT blog post to learn more on how this work will improve the LSFF coverage measurement: https://bit.ly/3x3Ukhx