Food Security in Samoa Seve Sinei Fili Ministry of Health

Talk outline Food security in Samoa Do we have sufficient food? Do we have nutritious food? Do we have access to nutritious food? Consequences of food insecurity in Samoa Efforts to improve food security in Samoa

Changes in Food Supply: 1963-2003 Significant changes in the supply pattern Imported cereals (mainly wheat, also rice) replaced locally produced root crops as most important source of energy Locally produced meat replaced with imported meat

Do we have access to nutritious foods

Stores filled with processed foods

Little access to “healthy” foods in school canteens

access to imported fruit & vegetables restricted by high tariff rates Most fruit & vegetables 0% tariff Instant noodles Mutton flaps Sugar Salt

Food advertising influences food choices (reduces selection of healthy foods) 71% of total food advertising aimed at children Majority of food advertising to children “unhealthy” foods “Television food marketing to children,” Meredith Muzak, 2008.

Food insecurity Insufficient access to nutritious food in Samoa

Consequences of Food Insecurity

Changing Diet Changing consumption between 1991 – 2003: Increased: rice, pancakes, cakes, chips Rapidly decreased: fish and papaya Low fruit & vegetable consumption Dietary habits of children a concern 2003 children compared with older adults more processed foods fewer fresh fruit & vegetables 2006 school children's most common weekday foods bread, doughnuts, cabin biscuits, ice pops, instant noodles

Efforts to improve food security and safety

Efforts To Promote Local Fresh Foods Implement food & nutrition policy (Food & Nutrition Policy 2013) Implement and monitor healthy diet guidelines Healthy Eating and Lifestyle Guidelines for Samoa 2008 Promote fresh local foods e.g. fruit and vegetables, starchy root crops TV and Radio Spots & Ads Improve food in schools and pre- schools Samoa School Nutrition Standards 2012 (SPAGHL spport)

Efforts to improve nutritional content of processed foods Update the food law to allow a focus on healthy food Establish food standards to improve nutrition e.g. control fat, salt and sugar content of food & fortify food Work with business community to increase importation and sale of fortified foods

Other efforts to improve food security and safety Develop standards for food labeling Incorporate food and nutrition in primary school curriculum Develop BHSC at the NUS (including nutrition) Conduct research on nutrition e.g. DHS, Brown University Unlabeled flour for sale – is it fortified?

Future possibilities Excise tax - increase on soft drinks and apply to other “unhealthy” foods Develop Code of marketing for children's food advertising Review price control measures and place emphasis on “healthy foods” Remove import taxes for fruit & vegetables

Conclusion Samoan diet has modernized - Health consequences Increasing reliance on processed foods, especially children Health consequences Increasing rates of lifestyle diseases Micronutrient deficiencies Need to overcome these health consequences Strengthen what we are doing - educating consumers and promoting physical activity Strengthen sustainable production and use of fresh local foods. Need to use innovative approaches related to food standards and their effective enforcement Multi-sectoral task - Ministries need to work closely together to improve nutrition, food production and food quality Samoa needs to work in a harmonised manner with other Pacific countries

Faafetai lava!