NUTRITION POLICIES IN EUROPE - BACKGROUND AND ORGANIZATION

In Europe dietary patterns have changed in the post-war period. Staple foods have shifted from cereals and tubers to meat and milk. Simultaneously, the mortality pattern has changed towards a higher mortality from diet-related diseases. This may have contributed to a renewed interest in food and nutrition policy theory and practice. A model describing the various elements of a comprehensive nutrition policy is presented, outlining the need for explicit objectives and sources of information about diet and health. Areas for policy action are described, and measures within each area suggested. Recent examples from within the European region of organization of responsibilities for food and nutrition policy and implementation are provided.