There has been a general shift towards healthier eating in recent years, especially in the light of the Western world's obesity epidemic. Food manufacturers have been keen to communicate efforts to reformulate their products to reduce fat, sugar and salt, for example. But some experts and commentators believe that the very fabric of our food supply infrastructure is at odds with healthy eating. The UK's Chartered Institute of Marketing's Food, Drink, and Agriculture group is holding a one-day conference at City University in London on Tuesday. The aim is to provide insight into our 'food repertoire', to discuss whether the food supply-health conflicts can ever be resolved, and to see how these insights could help inform food companies' marketing strategies. Amongst the questions to be raises are: Can obesity reduction targets ever be met?; Who should be responsible - governments, regulators, manufacturers, retailers, or individuals?; Are the media protagonists or antagonists"; How should food and drink manufacturers respond to these diverse pressures? The line up of speakers includes Marc Danzon, European director of the World Health Organisation, Ofcom director of content Kate Stross. Tim Lang, professor of food policy at City University and co-author of Food Wars, a book that assesses the purposes and impact of food and agricultural policies, will speak about the social issues of diet FoodNavigator.com will be reporting from the conference.
