Freshfel is to lobby European health ministers to spend a portion of their budgets promoting fruit and vegetables, following a World Health Organisation agreement between member states in July that committed governments to tackling diseases such as obesity and diabetes.
In the Vienna Declaration, agreed on 5 July, ministers of health and representatives of member states of the WHO stated that low intake of fruit and vegetables was the main food-related risk factor in developing non-communicable diseases. They pledged tocontribute by addressing low consumption of vegetables and fruits.
The Vienna Declaration also pointed out the need to create healthy food and drink environments, and to consider the use of economic tools and incentives to promote healthy eating.
No concrete measures by European countries have yet been agreed, but Raquel Izquierdo de Santiago, director food law, nutrition and health, says just 3 per cent of health budgets are currently spent on preventative measures such as the promotion of fruit and vegetables, even though the evidence shows prevention is cheaper and more effective than cure.
She is currently trying to arrange meetings with European health ministers to present the case for increased funding for fruit and vegetable promotion and is hopeful the meetings will take place in November.
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