Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

Re: Food security and nutrition: building a global narrative towards 2030 - HLPE consultation on the V0 draft of the Report

Joseph S. Weiss

Health and Nutrition Economist

Comment on the phrase, which is limited, given the importance of the topic: 

Companies, industry and legal frameworks often shape food systems and eating habits which are major drivers of poor health and environmental degradation (through the promotion of diets characterized by high calories, added sugars, saturated fats, processed foods, and red meats). P13.

The following is only an idea. If accepted, I would hope your editors  can draft their own version.

I believe that the issue relates to agency - is the consumer free to select or captured by cultural peer group preferences reinforced by industry promotion?

The report only briefly mentions on page 13 one of several key causes of obesity, industries’ promotion of poor diets. It fails to mention:  1) the preference for family vehicles with less walking to and from public transit, and the lack of facilities for pedestrians, 2) the preference for sedentary entertainment. The promotion of these anti-public health industries has had significant effects while public health promotion has declined. 

There are many studies on the causes of poor diets that should be reported. Not only should advertising favoring poor diets decline, the promotion of healthy foods and exercise is limited as compared to the anti-health industries’ advertising.

What was the last time that US audiences heard from their Surgeon General on this topic. Its citizens used to think he was an important man whose advice should be trusted. Now U.S. efforts to promote good health is limited to a “national” plan with no US government funding, available to the states if they want it. This is probably true in most of the world. 

Changing food preferences is also a struggle, given cultural incentives for all of group behaviors, but especially for the young. Unlearning may be a tough job.

Joseph S. Weiss, Ph. D., Cornell, 1971

Health and Nutrition Economist 

Answers to your  questions:

  1. Do you think that this framework addresses the key issues of FSN? YES
  2. Do you think that the analysis of the evolution of conceptual approaches and thinking on FSN clearly addresses its current adequacy to meet the SDG2 targets? NO
  3. Do you think that trends identified are the key ones in affecting FSN outcomes today that might help explain stalled progress on meeting SDG2 targets? NO Do you have additional data or information that could help refine the analysis of the interplay between these trends and FSN outcomes? AVAILABLE IN OTHER LITERATURE, CERTAINLY MANY STUDIES OF OBESITY DRIVERS AND THEIR IMPACTS.
  4. Drawing on HLPE reports and analysis in the wider literature, the report outlines several examples of potential policy pathways to address current challenges in ways that build more resilient and sustainable food systems and engage all stakeholders. Throughout the V0 draft there has been an attempt to indicate, sometimes with placeholders, specific case studies that would illustrate pathways to achieving FSN with concrete examples and experience, focusing on the six dimensions of availability, access, stability, utilization, agency and sustainability. The HLPE recognizes that the range of case studies could be more complete. Are the set of case studies appropriate in terms of the dimension chosen and regional balance? Can you suggest further case studies that could help to enrich and strengthen the report? Do you agree that the selected examples are among the most promising potential pathways to achieve FSN targets toward 2030? Do you have other good practices and examples of policy and interventions that could accelerate progress towards SDG2 along the six identified dimensions?
  5. INSUFFICIENT TREATMENT OF OBESITY – OTHER FOOD-NUTRITION – HEALTH CONDITION elements.
  6. Are there any major omissions or gaps in the V0 draft? Are topics under-or over-represented in relation to their importance? YES ABOVE.
  7. Are there any redundant facts or statements that could be eliminated from the V0 draft (especially considering the CFS request for a concise report)? Are any facts or conclusions refuted, questionable or assertions with no evidence-base? NO