Dietary advices in a sustainability perspective

Professor of Nutrition and Food Studies Marion Nestle from Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University gave an excellent key note lecture at the 9'th Nordic Nutrition Conference on Tuesday June 3rd 2008.

See her talk on YouTube: PART 1 - PART 2 - PART 3

or Listen to an MP3 file with her talk (36 MB)

Abstract:
In today’s era of plentiful food production, dietary advice is generally designed to help the public prevent obesity (eatless, move more), obtain the full complement of essential nutrients (eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grainfoods), and avoid foods of low nutrient density (don’t eat too much junk food). Increasingly, the public also demandsfood choices that address food miles, carbon footprints, environmental impact, and other aspects of sustainable foodproduction. Together, these concerns constitute a foods systems approach to dietary advice, one that recognizes theinextricable links among agriculture, food, nutrition, and health. From an international perspective, a shift to sustainablediets would have profound economic effects on the producers of food commodities, food products, and meals producedoutside the home. Such a shift also would affect food prices, international food trade, and relationships among the foodindustry, government agencies, and food and nutrition professionals. In free-market economies, any large-scale changein dietary choices has consequences for food producers and is, therefore, political. Much of what can be observed inagricultural production and food product development and marketing can be understood as an attempt to maintain salesin the midst of a food social movement. This movement is fragmented among many smaller movements, all of whichhave as goals diets that are healthier for people and for the planet. In this sense, promotion of sustainable diets is anexample of democracy in action and well worth supporting in all its various manifestations.

For more information on Marion Nestle see www.foodpolitics.com or her blog at www.whattoeatbook.com. Or view her Google lecture on What to eat.