FoodDrinkEurope promotes healthy eating with new website

17-Oct-2016 - Last updated on 18-Oct-2016 at 13:34 GMT

FoodDrinkEurope's new website features over 150 case studies of industry health action. Image©FoodDrinkEurope

Industry trade group FoodDrinkEurope has launched a new website to highlight industry efforts to promote healthier lifestyles.

FoodDrinkEurope's (FDE) online resource ‘Eat & Live Well’ features over 150 case studies from prominent food manufacturers including Danone, Kellogg and PepsiCo.

The website showcases their efforts in product formulation and innovation, responsible marketing and advertisin and promotion of healthy lifestyles.

The website taps into current strategies to improve the diets and lifestyle habits of populations across the world. The aim is to stem the tide of diet-related conditions such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer that currently affect close to two billion adults.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says obesity rates have doubled since 1980. Most of the world's population live in countries where being overweight and obese kills more people than being underweight. In 2014, 41 million children under the age of five were overweight or obese.

“The European food and drink industry want people to eat and live well, and enjoy food, not only today but also tomorrow,” a spokesperson for FDE said.

“The website is an attempt to bring these positive examples to the forefront. From salt reduction in certain products to creating specific food ranges for healthy ageing, these approaches can help improve lifestyles and make more responsible choices.”

Addressing malnutrition

vitamin D source fortification iStock bit245 — Vitamin D fortification looks promising thanks to an EFSA-approved health claim on vitamin D for reduced risk of falling in elderly.©iStock/bit245

As well as efforts to limit overnutrition, the resource also aims to highlight initiatives that tackle malnutrition.

Rates of malnutrition are particularly high in pregnant and breastfeeding women, children under five and the elderly.

Commenting on a specific case study of DSM’s fortification strategy for healthy ageing, the FDE spokesperson said fortification was a key part of industry product reformulation and innovation efforts.

“With a growing elderly population in Europe, healthy and active ageing offers many opportunities for companies to contribute positively to public health whilst taking advantage of the 'Silver Economy'," the spokesperson said.

FDE added that the website aimed to make companies accountable for their actions and commitments. Companies and organisations would report on progress annually as part of efforts for full transparency.