Member profile
Mr. Hans Brand
Organization:
Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality
Country:
Netherlands
Field(s) of expertise:
Mr. Hans Brand
Proponent
Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports
Date/Timeframe and location
2014 - 2020
Main responsible entity
National Agreement to Improve Product Composition 2014-2020
The purpose of the National Agreement To Improve Product Composition is to reduce the salt, unsaturated fat and calorie content (sugar and fat) of products. This will result in a healthier range of products.
The agreement has been signed by the following parties:
In the National Agreement To Improve Product Composition these parties state how they will jointly, each on the basis of their own responsibility, set about achieving the objectives up to and including 2020. The scope of the agreement aims in particular at salt, saturated fat and calories (sugar and fat), although it also has the wider ambition of making the range of products as a whole healthier.
Nutrition context
In the National Agreement To Improve Product Composition these parties state how they will jointly, each on the basis of their own responsibility, set about achieving the objectives up to and including 2020. The scope of the agreement aims in particular at salt, saturated fat and calories (sugar and fat), although it also has the wider ambition of making the range of products as a whole healthier.
On 27th of January the Dutch ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports and the ministry of Economic affairs organized the Dutch Food Summit. The outcome was a declaration, where all present parties agreed upon a declaration to work on healthier food options. See attached declaration.
Key characteristics of the food system(s) considered
The purpose of this Agreement is to reduce the salt2, unsaturated fat and calorie (sugar and (saturated) fat3) content in products. This will result in a healthier range of products4.
In this Agreement the parties:
state how they will set about achieving this together over the next few years, each of them on the basis of their own responsibility.
Key characteristics of the investment made
THE SIGNATORY PARTIES AGREE THE FOLLOWING JOINT AMBITIONS
To reduce the salt content in the range of products so that it is easier for consumers to consume a maximum of 6 grams of salt per day. Consumers who eat good food in accordance with the National Dietary Guidelines can comply with the consumption of a maximum of 6 grams per day by 2020 at the latest.
To reduce the saturated fat content in the range of products so that it is easier for consumers to consume a maximum of 10 energy% saturated fats per day. To achieve this by 2020.
To make it easier for consumers to consume less energy. To achieve this by 2020 by, wherever possible, reducing both the energy density of products via a reduction in sugar and/or (saturated) fat and/or reducing portion sizes as well as continuing to promote fruit and vegetables.
In achieving the ambitions:
The prioritising of the product categories is based on their relevance for public health: their contribution to consumption and improvements that can be (technologically) achieved.
Products that are intended for children are given high priority.
Key actors and stakeholders involved (including through south-south/triangular exchanges, if any)
In this Agreement the parties:
- Central Bureau for the Food Trade (CBL)
- Dutch Federation for the Food Industry (FNLI)
- Royal Dutch Hotel and Catering Association (KHN)
- Dutch Catering Association (Veneca)
- Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS)
state how they will set about achieving this together over the next few years, each of them on the basis of their own responsibility.
Key changes (intended and unintended) as a result of the investment/s
Challenges faced
Lessons/Key messages
Mr. Hans Brand
Proponent
Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition
Date/Timeframe and location
January 2016 to June 2017 – 3 Districts of Sofala Province, Mozambique
Main responsible entity
GAIN
Nutrition Context
Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world where one third of the population is chronically food-insecure, and the average life expectancy is 50. Nearly 30% of the population has a staple-based diet with limited access to a diversity of foods that are able to provide a full range of nutrients, including micronutrients, needed for optimal health, and physical and mental development. The prevalence of vitamin A and iron deficiencies in children under five are also very high, at 69% and 74% respectively; 1 in every 2 children under five do not achieve their potential physical, cognitive or mental and development. Less than a third of children consume more than four food groups a day, with only 13% of children 6-23 months being fed according to Infant and Young Children Feeding (IYCF) practices.
Malnutrition, including micronutrient deficiencies is a major impediment to socioeconomic development that contributes to a vicious cycle of underdevelopment and has long-ranging effects on health, learning ability, and productivity. It also leads to high social and public costs, reduced work capacity in populations due to high rates of illness and disability, and tragic loss of human potential.
Key characteristics of the food system(s) considered
The Cost of the Diet Study conducted in different regions of Mozambique (WFP 2010) showed that 80% of the households could not cover the minimum cost of a (nutritious) diet. Providing nutrient rich complementary foods to children 6-23 months is challenging for low income households who do not have access to micronutrient rich food, both in terms of availability and affordability. The study also showed that by distributing free sachets of micronutrient powders, containing 15 essential vitamins and minerals to be mixed into the food of children 6-24 months, it would be possible to make the diet of the child more affordable (i.e. reduce the minimum cost of the diet of the child by 68%).
Given iron-deficiency anemia is a serious public health concern for children under 5 in Mozambique, the Ministry of Health (MISAU) decided to adopt home fortification with micronutrient powders as a preventative measure.
Projects in Mozambique that provide free distribution of MNPs are only available to around one sixth of the population, are hard to sustain in the long run, and the costs of extending schemes nationally exceeds available budgets. While MNPs are seen as an effective solution to improve micronutrient intake, distributing them for free through the health system alone is seen as a burden on the health providers in terms of managing storage and distribution of a product which is time consuming and costly.
Key characteristics of the investment made
The project set out to test a hybrid MNP distribution model with two elements – (a) using vouchers redeemed via commercial retail outlets to handle distribution and reduce pressure on the health system. This opens up the possibility of subsidized and targeted distribution; and (b) explore the development of building a market for commercial sales of MNPs. It was implemented the Sofala province includes the delivery of vouchers to caregivers of children 6-23 months through the public health system, both in health facilities (through either health facility staff or dedicated promoters) and communities (through community activists). Each voucher – which can either be a paper or an electronic (on-demand voucher requested through short messaging service (SMS)) – allows caregivers redeem 3 boxes of 20 MNP sachets at small retail outlets that sell fast moving goods, registered with PSI as “Troca Aki”. These outlets are registered through PSI’s electronic data platform managed called “Movercado” which provides real-time tracking data of which vouchers are redeemed by caregivers.
This mechanism was selected for this project such that the voucher system could alleviate pressure on the government supply chain system for health supplies and medicines delivered directly through MISAU health centers, and to promote the market-based channel and decrease the burden on the public sector, which does not have funds to provide MNPs for the entire country.
Key actors and stakeholders involved (including through south-south/triangular exchanges, if any)
GAIN was responsible for coordinating and overseeing the overall project design and implementation. GAIN partnered with Population Services International (PSI), Save the Children (SCI) and the District Health Authorities to conduct the implementation. GAIN also partnered with the MISAU and the Provincial Health Directorate of Sofala Province for strategic alignment and direction with national policies and priorities
Key changes (intended and unintended) as a result of the investment/s
The intended outcome of the project would be to improve the accessibility (availability and affordability) of MNPs for caregivers with children 6-23 months as well as their knowledge of optimal infant and young child feeding practices. The intention behind this would be improved message coverage of MNPs (caregivers who had heard of MNPs), improved contact coverage (caregivers who have tried feeding MNPs to their child) and improved effective use (continuous use of MNPs according to dosage recommendations) in order to have an impact on nutritional status.
Through the project 2,000,000 sachets of MNPs were distributed to caregivers in a period of 15 months in 3 districts. Preliminary results from an evaluation indicate that the majority of caregivers (>60%) have heard about the scheme, while 35% have used MNPs.
Challenges faced
Lessons/Key messages