FDE announces new industry commitment for healthy diets

On the 10^th year anniversary of the EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health – an EC-led forum which brings together groups of stakeholders to find ways to improve the health of EU citizens through voluntary commitments – industry trade group FoodDrinkEurope (FDE) has pledged a new commitment called the ‘Framework for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health’.

The framework would mean a stepping up of commitments and pledges already in place as well as triggering further action in the future, FDE said.

No concrete details for the future action were available but FDE said five areas would be covered: product formulation and innovation including portion sizes, responsible marketing and advertising, consumer information, promoting health lifestyles and research.

FDE communications manager, Eleni Giannakaki, told FoodNavigator: “This framework will ensure reporting of progress, not only for commitments that have been submitted already under the EU Platform, but also actions at local, national and sector level.

“Progress and achievements will be reported individually on a yearly basis as there is a wide variety of different projects and actions, illustrating the holistic nature the food and drink industry is taking.”

FDE and its members accounted for almost half of the 116 commitments made by Platform participants so far. 

FDE recently published a report which rounded up some of its major industry initiatives and best practices. This included commitments from both major companies, such as PepsiCo which has halved the fat content of Walker’s crisps, and national groups, such as Italian Federalimentare which has reduced the unit quantity and energy density for over 3,500 products since 2005.

A full list can be seen here.

Mella Frewen, director general of FoodDrinkEurope, said: “It is obvious that, against the background of an ageing society, a healthy European population is not just a matter of social responsibility, it is also in the direct interest of a healthy and sustainable European food and drink sector.”