Food, nutrition and health are once again heading the consumer, political and industry agendas. Today's eating patterns are moving in a direction diametrically opposed to our increasingly sedentary lifestyles.
Our environment is so geared towards reducing effort that inappropriate dietary habits, obesity and serious health problems become inevitable, costing the country an estimated £2bn. This has refocused our attention on the need for a cohesive nutrition strategy appropriate to today's lifestyle.
The government's recently launched Food and Health Action Plan draws attention to the key issues: improving dietary quality by increasing the amount of fruit and veg we eat, encouraging reductions of salt, fat and sugar in the diet, and tackling obesity, not only via diet but also by encouraging physical activity.
The industry has made great strides in enhancing consumer choice and harnessing scientific developments to deliver real health benefits. It is important to remember, though that there are no good or bad foods, just good and bad diets it's about balance.
A lot of progress has been made. The proliferation of healthy eating ranges and low fat, low sugar, high fibre, fortified products is testament to the huge investment. Yet still, more can be done and this presents us with a positive challenge.
At IGD we are very clear that successful solutions need to be based on consumer insight and not just science alone. By understanding the needs of our customers we have a greater chance of reaching them with the right message, instilling them with confidence and stimulating a shift towards a healthier lifestyle.
Now is the time for us all to capitalise on the focused interest in food and its relationship with health. Consumer research at IGD has indicated that we have many of our customers on board many are actively seeking healthier alternatives and it makes good commercial sense.
No-one pretends that it's easy to balance the health implications with the commercial imperative and existing policy drivers, but we do need to listen to our customers, research their needs, and avoid a paternalistic approach.
While not everyone may agree on the priorities or even the problems or solutions, there is a recognition that we can only move forward and deliver if we work in partnership. We will continue to support the government in its initiatives. We need to harness our collective power and influence to develop a truly cohesive approach. Joined up thinking and action right across the board is the real challenge.
Working with government, agencies, the industry and consumer groups, it is my experience at IGD and my belief that we can take a very positive, proactive, consultative and, importantly, a balanced whole chain approach.
An example of this will be the work that DEFRA has asked us to do on the impact of various nutrition initiatives on the food chain.
Indeed, IGD president Iain Ferguson has identified nutrition as a key focus for the IGD's Policy Issues Council in 2003. An early part of this new initiative will be to start the dialogue between members of the food chain, focusing on the opportunities and challenges embedded within the DEFRA strategy, the Department of Health activities, the global WHO report and the FSA Nutrition Action Plan.
The focus will be to explore ways to develop a more integrated, measurable strategy that can deliver for everyone by providing cost effective benefits with maximum effect.
While it is recognised that we will all communicate with our customers in different styles, it is important that everyone, including the government and the devolved agencies, agree on the focus and some key broad messages if we are to be a powerful voice.
We need involvement, commitment, transparency and a willingness to work in partnership with all those with a responsibility in this area if we are to deliver a successful strategy in nutrition not only for our customers but also for our industry as a whole.
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Our environment is so geared towards reducing effort that inappropriate dietary habits, obesity and serious health problems become inevitable, costing the country an estimated £2bn. This has refocused our attention on the need for a cohesive nutrition strategy appropriate to today's lifestyle.
The government's recently launched Food and Health Action Plan draws attention to the key issues: improving dietary quality by increasing the amount of fruit and veg we eat, encouraging reductions of salt, fat and sugar in the diet, and tackling obesity, not only via diet but also by encouraging physical activity.
The industry has made great strides in enhancing consumer choice and harnessing scientific developments to deliver real health benefits. It is important to remember, though that there are no good or bad foods, just good and bad diets it's about balance.
A lot of progress has been made. The proliferation of healthy eating ranges and low fat, low sugar, high fibre, fortified products is testament to the huge investment. Yet still, more can be done and this presents us with a positive challenge.
At IGD we are very clear that successful solutions need to be based on consumer insight and not just science alone. By understanding the needs of our customers we have a greater chance of reaching them with the right message, instilling them with confidence and stimulating a shift towards a healthier lifestyle.
Now is the time for us all to capitalise on the focused interest in food and its relationship with health. Consumer research at IGD has indicated that we have many of our customers on board many are actively seeking healthier alternatives and it makes good commercial sense.
No-one pretends that it's easy to balance the health implications with the commercial imperative and existing policy drivers, but we do need to listen to our customers, research their needs, and avoid a paternalistic approach.
While not everyone may agree on the priorities or even the problems or solutions, there is a recognition that we can only move forward and deliver if we work in partnership. We will continue to support the government in its initiatives. We need to harness our collective power and influence to develop a truly cohesive approach. Joined up thinking and action right across the board is the real challenge.
Working with government, agencies, the industry and consumer groups, it is my experience at IGD and my belief that we can take a very positive, proactive, consultative and, importantly, a balanced whole chain approach.
An example of this will be the work that DEFRA has asked us to do on the impact of various nutrition initiatives on the food chain.
Indeed, IGD president Iain Ferguson has identified nutrition as a key focus for the IGD's Policy Issues Council in 2003. An early part of this new initiative will be to start the dialogue between members of the food chain, focusing on the opportunities and challenges embedded within the DEFRA strategy, the Department of Health activities, the global WHO report and the FSA Nutrition Action Plan.
The focus will be to explore ways to develop a more integrated, measurable strategy that can deliver for everyone by providing cost effective benefits with maximum effect.
While it is recognised that we will all communicate with our customers in different styles, it is important that everyone, including the government and the devolved agencies, agree on the focus and some key broad messages if we are to be a powerful voice.
We need involvement, commitment, transparency and a willingness to work in partnership with all those with a responsibility in this area if we are to deliver a successful strategy in nutrition not only for our customers but also for our industry as a whole.
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