Nutrition & Food Security Programme Health, Nutrition and Agriculture Policy Dr Aileen Robertson Acting Regional Adviser for Nutrition WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen Co-author Dr Tim Lobstein Director, The Food Commission, London

Nutrition & Food Security Programme WHO 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

Nutrition & Food Security Programme Prevalence of cardiovascular diseases

Nutrition & Food Security Programme Prevalence of cerebrovascular diseases

Nutrition & Food Security Programme Prevalence of cancers

Nutrition & Food Security Programme Obese men in WHO European Region

Nutrition & Food Security Programme Obese women in the WHO European Region

Nutrition & Food Security Programme Under - Nutrition No evidence of widespread under- nutrition due to lack of protein (milk/meat) or energy (excess energy intake)

Nutrition & Food Security Programme WHO Recommendations n Vegetables & fruit – >400g/person/day n Pulses, nuts and seeds - >30g/person/day (part of 400g) n Potatoes – energy from complex carbohydrates (50-70% energy)

Nutrition & Food Security Programme EuroDiet conclusions Population goals from recent international expert analyses based on different levels of evidence ComponentPopulation goalsLevels of evidence Physical Activity LevelsPAL> Adult Body Weight as BMIBMI (18.5 – 24.9)**++ Dietary Fat % E<30++ Fatty Acides % total E Saturated< Trans<2++ Polyunsaturated (PUFA) n-6<7-8++ n-32g linolenic mg very long chain ++ Carbohydrates Total %>55+++ Sugary intakes, occasions per day =<4++ Fruit and Vegetables (g/d)>400++ Folate from food> Dietary Fibre>25 (or 3g/MJ)++ Sodium (expressed as sodium chloride) g/d <6+++ Exclusive Breast FeedingAbout 6 months+++ * The range given in brackets refers to individuals not populations

Nutrition & Food Security Programme Trends in production of milk, meat, bread and potatoes Europe Year

Nutrition & Food Security Programme FAO Intake Vegetables and fruit Availability of fruits and vegetables according to FAO data and intake surveys

Nutrition & Food Security Programme Vegetable < 250 g/p/day Fruit < 150 g/p/day Percentage of low fruit and vegetable consumers Source: DAFNE - Data Food Networking

Nutrition & Food Security Programme CAP budget Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture Dietary targets

Nutrition & Food Security Programme Hidden environmental costs of agriculture United Kingdom Germany Water pollution 350m135m+ Air/ozone pollution 1,660m1,690m Soil contamination 140m?m Lost biodiversity 190m7m+ Agrochemical impact on health 2m13m+ 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

Nutrition & Food Security Programme Protective health features of vegetables and fruits Tomatoes LycopeneHeart diseases and prostrate cancer Carrots Beta carotene Malignant changes in lungs Broccoli, Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts IsothiocyanatesLung Cancer Apples, Grapes, Onions, tea Quercetin Heart disease and cancerous changes to cells Strawberries & grapes Ellagic acid Pollution from tobacco smoke FoodPhytonutrient 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

Nutrition & Food Security Programme Loss of bio-diversity n Lost diversity of diet, with a few crops providing our food n Lost nutrient density through selection for high yielding varieties n Lost access to wild foods which have high nutrient density n Distorted markets which favour processed foods and animal products

Nutrition & Food Security Programme Lives 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.

Nutrition & Food Security Programme Food production should encourage: n Environmentally sustainable forms of farming n Production of foods for consumers’ nutritional needs n Social cohesion and improved socio- economic status in rural areas n Promote public health

Nutrition & Food Security Programme Opportunity Health Impact Assessment (HIA)

Nutrition & Food Security Programme Food expenditure % household income Agricultural employment % total empl. EU ENLARGEMENT % Income on Food & employment Source: DAFNE - Data Food Networking

Nutrition & Food Security Programme Shifts in distribution of occupation, Source: World Bank, 53 countries over a 23- year period.

Nutrition & Food Security Programme Changing 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

Nutrition & Food Security Programme Health Health 21 Food & Nutrition Environment Agenda 21

Nutrition & Food Security Programme Polish farmer

Nutrition & Food Security Programme Food Safety Nutrition Sustainable Food Supply

Nutrition & Food Security Programme Vegetable messages Adapted from an advert by Thomas Cook

Nutrition & Food Security Programme I wish somebody would start a scare about “greens” Eat your veggies!