“Mother” Matters: How changing language can compromise breastfeeding support

The increasing pressure to avoid the word "mother" by those in the lactation world hoping to achieve greater inclusivity can undermine breastfeeding advocacy.

Is England's public health nutrition system in crisis? A qualitative analysis of the capacity to feed all in need during the COVID-19 pandemic

Methodology: An exploratory methodology was adopted to examine experiences relating to capability and capacity among formal and informal helpers within the PHN domain. An online survey, mainly open-ended questions, was used to capture experiences over the period 2010 - 2020. A mixed sampling strategy, including snowball and convenience sampling, via social media and social network contact-sharing approaches, was adopted. Data was analysed using an inductive thematic approach. Results: A total of 89 participants representing the PHN system in England were recruited over two months. Three main themes and eight sub-themes were identified. The first reflected unequivocal accounts of the impact of austerity and the inability of PHN services to meet demand for food security. The second articulated capacity and capability issues within the system, with geographical variations in service delivery, and a lack of connectivity between central, local government, and third sector providers. These were attributed to widening nutrition and health inequalities. Participants felt that the government needed to invest more technical and financial resources to support public health nutrition. They also felt that schools could play a larger role at local level, but there was a need for a clear national recovery plan, setting out a comprehensive and fully supported national strategy to eradicate food insecurity in England Conclusions: Further in-depth research is needed to continue to track the impact of recovery strategies on food insecure people and the capacity of the PHN system. Urgent investment in the capacity and coordination of PHN services is needed to support food insecure people in England. The UK could include the ratification of the right to food in national laws, in line with global commitments already agreed to by the UK State Party.

An update on WPHNA’s participation in food security and other issues at FAO

This is a report by WPHNA's External Affairs Secretary.

Evaluating the impact of food labeling in a vocational school: an open prospective pilot study

Background: In October 2017, France adopted the Nutri-Score label as the official food label to display on industrial food packaging. School mass catering is recognized as a substantial contributor to individual diet. Objective: Evaluating the impact of the food label Nutri-score on food choices of students at a school self-service restaurant and at home. Methods: Longitudinal open prospective pilot study conducted in the self-service restaurant of a vocational school in France in 2019. After a survey among guests (T0), food products labeled with the Nutri-Score were presented to consumers on the menus at the entrance and directly on the food dishes at the counters (T1). The intervention was supplemented by a counseling service on healthy diet conducted by a nutritionist (T2). Results: We observed a decrease in students’ consumption of sweet products (57%). Similarly, the self-service catering staff observed at the end of T1 a decrease in food leftovers categorized as less healthy. The implementation of the counseling service at T2 was significantly associated with a higher consumption of fruits and vegetables (P < .001), healthier eating habits at home (P < .001), more home cooking (P < .02), and an increased will to check for the presence of the Nutri-Score labels on supermarket food items (P < .001). Conclusions: After the display of the Nutri-Score label, we observed an improvement in students’ diets. However, results were significant only when the Nutri-Score was associated with a counseling service.

Impact of a diet diversification and health and nutrition counseling program in Madagascar

Background: Due to lack of resources, especially for mothers and children, Madagascar has high levels of malnutrition. Health promotion and education have shown to be effective in increasing health status in limited-resource areas. This study piloted a tailored, four-week health and nutrition counseling program to improve diet diversity and health promoting practices. Methods: Twenty child caregivers were recruited from Andasibe, Madagascar, using snowball sampling, and were provided weekly individualized health counseling with education materials by the research team. Diet, health knowledge, and health behaviors were assessed using a quasi-experimental one-group pre/post-test design. Body mass index, mid-upper arm circumference measurements, and Raman spectroscopy technology assessed nutritional status. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired sample t-tests to determine changes. Results: All caregivers were female. More caregivers were within normal limits for Body Mass Index (40%) than underweight or overweight, and most were within normal limits for mid-upper-arm circumference (75%). Significant increases (p≤0.01) were found in caregiver consumption of vitamin A-rich foods, and using treated water to wash fruits and vegetables, though significant increases were not found for children. The majority (80%) increased diet diversity. Participants increased their knowledge of nutrition and non-nutritious foods. Conclusions: Results suggest an individualized approach to health promotion in a limited-resource area can improve diet diversity, knowledge and health practices. Opportunities for further education and research include increasing knowledge of nutrient dense foods, expanding food choice beyond carbohydrate-rich foods, diet diversity importance, and sustaining education efforts beyond project implementation. Strategies highlighted in this research can inform others working in limited-resource areas.

The malnutrition bazaar: the case of RUTF

Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in children is life-threatening. Its causes range from lack of access to balanced food, to incorrect feeding practices, lack of access to an efficient health system, to clean potable water and sanitation. However, the present approach to managing SAM is fortified packaged food – a paste made with peanuts or other protein rich food such as chickpeas, milk and sugar, to which micronutrients are added. Currently, a version of the paste with less energy levels is also being recommended for treating even moderate forms of malnutrition, as well as for prevention of malnutrition (World Health Organization (WHO), 2012; WHO/UNICEF/WFP, 2014; WFP/UNICEF/USAID, undated). The large number of malnourished children around the globe furnish the food and pharmaceutical industries with an immense potential market for these fortified food packages. That the market for ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs) is rapidly expanding is primarily due to its endorsement by the World Health Organisation (WHO, the World Food Programme, the United Nations System Standing Committee on Nutrition[1] (UNSCN) and UNICEF for treating SAM (World Health Organization, the World Food Programme, the United Nations System Standing Committee on Nutrition and the United Nations Children’s Fund. (2007).). Non state actors like Action Against Hunger (Action Contre La Faim) and Médecins Sans Frontières have also been working to introduce RUTF treatment in countries such as Ethiopia, Nigeria, Libya, Chad, Central African Republic, Malawi, Yemen, India and Pakistan. In addition, several of the new manufacturers use unethical marketing practices to increase their share of sales. The long-term sustainable solution to reducing undernutrition has to be based on policies that manage conflict, inequity, gender imbalance, food sovereignty and security, infant and young child feeding, basic health services and provision of safe drinking water and sanitation. [1] In 2020, the UN Network for SUN (UNN) merged with the United Nations System Standing Committee on Nutrition (UNSCN) to form a new entity, called UN Nutrition. As of 1 January 2021, the UN Nutrition Secretariat, hosted by FAO headquarters, became operational.