Improving research on food to fight chronic diet related diseases in Europe

A new strategy for food and health research in Europe is proposed today. Unhealthy eating causes up to one quarter of chronic diseases – which include heart disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke and dementia - the commonest causes of ill-heath in Europe. There is a ‘knowledge gap’ on how to influence diets and eating.

The report recommends more research on how to achieve healthier eating – for example, through changing food production, changing behaviours, and showing the impacts of better governmental policies and regulation.

And it recommends improvements in the organisation of food and health research in Europe.

There should be better links between food research and medical research, and more use of social sciences to determine effective interventions.

Food safety authorities should recognise the importance of food on causing chronic diseases, and support the new research effort.

National research programmes must be strengthened, with more joint action between countries.

The FAHRE strategy proposes a European Forum on food and health research, for researchers, governments, voluntary organisations and the food industry to decide research priorities that address the health challenge. And the European Union has an important part to play, both in funding research and promoting cooperation.

Olivier Chartier, Consultant at Euroquality said, ”Coordination is crucial for better food and health research in Europe. For food safety authorities to promote research in Europe and nationally would be a big step forward.”

Mark McCarthy, Professor of Public Health at University College London said, “Our eating is now a great challenge to health – causing not just obesity, but also many chronic diseases. Research must address prevention, and - with industry - create new eating habits through incentives, policies and innovation.”

Rachel Newton, Project Manager at SPI Portugal in Porto said, “It has been a great opportunity to undertake this important review of food and health research in Europe. We believe the results will have wide interest, and strong relevance for the coming new programme of European Union research.

The full report can be accessed at www.spi.pt/fahre.

Countries

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, United Kingdom