Food fortification could be the next global health success story – if countries close the gaps
Two-thirds of all countries mandate food fortification to combat hidden hunger, yet many are not necessarily translating policy into improved nutrition, according to new data from the Global Fortification Data Exchange (GFDx). These countries may be missing an immense opportunity to improve the health of children and mothers, bolster communities, and boost national economies.
Food systems and gender
Wherever you look in the global food system, there are obvious differences between men and women. These differences are not only intrinsically unjust, they also have functional consequences. And the societal differences between men and women drive malnutrition in the next generation, with both women’s education and the degree of gender equality having been shown to be strong determinants of stunting in children.
Global Health 50/50: Equality Works rating of GAIN
GAIN has improved its performance on gender equality in 2019 Global Health 50/50: Equality Works report. Following a positive score in the 2018 report with room for improvement, GAIN has actively engaged in the strengthening its commitment to gender equality, by making its workplace gender policy publicly available and balancing board parity. Thanks to internal efforts, these indicators marked green on the 2019 edition.
FAO and GAIN to scale up joint efforts targeting healthy diets
FAO and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) have agreed to join forces to increase the availability and affordability of nutritious food for all in developing countries. The two organisations will also work to make urban food systems more nutrition-sensitive, through support to GAIN’s Urban Governance for Nutrition Programme and FAO’s Urban Food Agenda.
A review of business accountability mechanisms in nutrition
- 13/03/2019
Business is both part of the problem and the solution to the current food systems challenges. It is critical that we all learn more about this dual impact and that we are able to track how it evolves. By increasing the effectiveness of tracking we will be better positioned to ask and assist businesses to be agents for positive change.
How to persuade people to eat more nutritious food?
I just finished reading ‘Why you eat what you eat' by Professor Rachel Herz. Fascinating, and together with Professor Michael Spence’s “Gastrophysics” it caused me to reflect on the radical changes we need to effectively promote healthy and nutritious diets, and reverse the out-of-control trends in malnutrition affecting every country.
Why nutrition needs to find blue oceans
Funding for nutrition has increased significantly over the past 10 years, which is a very good thing. So has the number of initiatives, organisations and programmes addressing nutrition. But is this an unqualified good thing?
Feeding babies: where a small stomach meets a big need
Babies are the nutritionist’s biggest challenge. Their rapidly developing minds and bodies need large doses of nutrients, yet their stomachs are small and unable to hold much of anything. This is why nutritionists have worked for decades on the development of special foods for low-income settings, including both fortified porridges and fortified products in powder or paste form which can be added to standard family foods.