Health, Nutrition and Agriculture Policy

Nutrition & Food Security Programme

Health, Nutrition and Agriculture Health, Nutrition and Agriculture PolicyPolicy

Dr Aileen RobertsonDr Aileen Robertson

Acting Regional Adviser for NutritionActing Regional Adviser for Nutrition

WHO Regional Office for Europe, WHO Regional Office for Europe, CopenhagenCopenhagen

Co-authorCo-author

Dr Tim LobsteinDr Tim Lobstein

Director, The Food Commission, LondonDirector, The Food Commission, London


WHO European RegionWHO European Region

The designations and the presentation of material on this map of Member States of the WHO European Region (as of 31 July 1997) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. As at March 1999


Prevalence of cardiovascular Prevalence of cardiovascular diseasesdiseases

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

EUROPE EU average CEE average

NIS average

Ischaemic heart disease,0-64,per 100000


Prevalence of cerebrovascular diseasesPrevalence of cerebrovascular diseases

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005


NIS average

Cerebrovascular diseases, 0-64/100000


Prevalence of cancersPrevalence of cancers

75

80

85

90

95

100

105

110

115

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005


NIS average

Malignant neoplasms, 0-64, per 100000


Obese men in WHO European RegionObese men in WHO European Region


Obese women in the WHO European Obese women in the WHO European RegionRegion


Under - NutritionUnder - Nutrition

No evidence of widespread under-No evidence of widespread under-nutrition due to lack of protein nutrition due to lack of protein (milk/meat) or energy (excess (milk/meat) or energy (excess energy intake)energy intake)


WHO RecommendationsWHO Recommendations

Vegetables & fruit – Vegetables & fruit – >400g/person/day>400g/person/day

Pulses, nuts and seeds - Pulses, nuts and seeds - >30g/person/day (part of >30g/person/day (part of 400g)400g)

Potatoes – energy from Potatoes – energy from complex carbohydrates (50-complex carbohydrates (50-70% energy)70% energy)


EuroDiet conclusionsEuroDiet conclusionsPopulation goals from recent international expert analyses based on different levels of evidence

Component Population goals Levels of evidence

Physical Activity Levels PAL>1.75 ++

Adult Body Weight as BMI BMI 21-22 (18.5 – 24.9)** ++

Dietary Fat % E <30 ++

Fatty Acides % total E

Saturated <10 ++++

Trans <2 ++

Polyunsaturated (PUFA)

n-6 <7-8 ++

n-3 2g linolenic + 200 mg very long chain

++

Carbohydrates

Total % >55 +++

Sugary intakes, occasions per day

=<4 ++

Fruit and Vegetables (g/d) >400 ++

Folate from food >400 +++

Dietary Fibre >25 (or 3g/MJ) ++

Sodium (expressed as sodium chloride) g/d

<6 +++

Exclusive Breast Feeding About 6 months +++

* The range given in brackets refers to individuals not populations


Trends in production of milk, meat, Trends in production of milk, meat, bread and potatoes Europe 1950-bread and potatoes Europe 1950-

19891989

1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1989

Year


0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200

Czech Republic 97

Poland 97

Hungary 97

UK 95

Ireland 89

Austria 98

Netherlands 92

Germany 90

Sweden 89

Denmark 95

BEL-LUX 82

Finland 97

Portugal 80

France 96

Italy 95

Spain 94

Greece 97

FAO

Intake

Vegetables and fruitVegetables and fruitAvailability of fruits and vegetables according to FAO data and intake surveys


20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100

Norway

Ireland

Germany

Belgium

Luxembourg

United Kingdom

Hungary

Poland

Spain

Greece

g/day

Vegetable < 250 g/p/day

Fruit < 150 g/p/day

Percentage of low fruit and Percentage of low fruit and vegetable consumersvegetable consumers

Source: DAFNE - Data Food Networking


Fruit, vegetables

4%

Wine, tobacco, olive oil, sugar

18%

Cereals (for food)20%

Meat, dairy, animal food

58%

CAP budgetCAP budget

Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture

Meat, fish, dairy25%

Cereals35%

Fruit, vegetables

35%

Other5%

Dietary targetsDietary targets


Hidden environmental costs of Hidden environmental costs of

agricultureagriculture

United Kingdom Germany

Water pollution 350m 135m+

Air/ozone pollution 1,660m 1,690m

Soil contamination 140m ?m

Lost biodiversity 190m 7m+

Agrochemical impact on health 2m 13m+

Microbiological impact on health 1,160m+ ?m

Costs per hectare 305 Euros 105+ Euros

Annual “hidden” costs of intensive agriculture (in Euros)

Costs which are not reflected in the price of foods


Protective health features of Protective health features of vegetables and fruitsvegetables and fruits

Tomatoes

Lycopene Heart diseases and prostrate cancer

Carrots

Beta carotene Malignant changes in lungs

Broccoli, Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts

Isothiocyanates Lung Cancer

Apples, Grapes, Onions, tea

Quercetin Heart disease and cancerous changes to cells

Strawberries & grapes

Ellagic acid Pollution from tobacco smoke

Food Phytonutrient Potential Health Benefits Against

Oranges & grapefruit

Terpenes

Ulcers & tooth decay

Source: Recent advances in Phytochemistry: Functionality of Volume 31; 1997 – T. Johns & J. Romeo, Plenum Press and Antioxidants – the case for fruit and vegetables in the diet; Rice Evans, C. & Miller, N. J.: British Food Journal, 97: 9: 1995, pp. 35 – 40


Loss of bio-diversityLoss of bio-diversity

Lost diversity of diet, with a few crops Lost diversity of diet, with a few crops providing our foodproviding our food

Lost nutrient density through selection Lost nutrient density through selection for high yielding varietiesfor high yielding varieties

Lost access to wild foods which have Lost access to wild foods which have high nutrient densityhigh nutrient density

Distorted markets which favour Distorted markets which favour processed foods and animal productsprocessed foods and animal products


Lives savedLives saved

26,000 deaths before the age of 65 years would be prevented annually

in EU……

if intake of fruits and vegetables was levelled up to the highest

consumption levels.


Food production should Food production should encourage:encourage:

Environmentally sustainable forms Environmentally sustainable forms of farmingof farming

Production of foods for consumers’ Production of foods for consumers’ nutritional needsnutritional needs

Social cohesion and improved Social cohesion and improved socio-economic status in rural areassocio-economic status in rural areas

Promote public healthPromote public health


OpportunityOpportunity

Health Impact Assessment

(HIA)


0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65

Slovenia

Hungary

Estonia

Czech Republic

Poland

Slovakia

Latvia

Lithuania

Bulgaria

Romania

Food expenditure % household incomeAgricultural employment % total empl.

EU ENLARGEMENTEU ENLARGEMENT

% Income on Food & employment% Income on Food & employment

Source: DAFNE - Data Food Networking

Nutrition & Food Security Programme 0,05 0,03 0,02 0,02

0,290,35

0,310,27

0,640,6

0,650,7

0

1

1972-73 1980-81 1990-91 1994-95

Agriculture Manufacturing Service

Shifts in distribution of Shifts in distribution of occupation, 1972-95occupation, 1972-95

Source: World Bank, 53 countries over a 23- year period.


Changing Public AttitudesChanging Public Attitudes

• Average Family pays 1000 Euros/yr as a result of CAP

• 92% of public think Agric is important

• Only 50% know about CAP

• Increase in number of Food Scandals


Health Health 21

Food & Nutrition

Environment Agenda 21


Polish farmerPolish farmer


Foo

d S

afet

y

Nu

trit

ion

Su

stai

nab

le

Foo

d S

up

ply


Vegetable messagesVegetable messages

Adapted from an advert by Thomas Cook


I wish somebody

would start a scare about

“greens”

Eat your veggies!

Documents

Health, Nutrition and Agriculture Policy