Addressing public health, sustainability and equity

from paddock to platePublic Health AssociationA U S T R A L I A

The Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) is calling for an overhaul in the way we approach

food policy in this country. The PHAA is calling on:

CALL TO ACTION

consistency in policy

centralised food policy that has public interest at its core

guideline review that is currently underway

health and are ecologically sustainable and socially

www.phaa.net.au;

public interest

support for this initiative at www.phaa.net.au

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social inequality are national priorities for Australia. In each of

these areas food policy plays a crucial role yet the approach to

as well as adapt to new challenges.

The PHAA believes it is possible to establish a food policy

OVERVIEW

and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Dietary Guidelines.

approach that can actively address the pressing issues of

patterns of Australians.

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1

The PHAA recognises that it is beyond the scope of this

A Future for Food

4

10

8

6

4

2

9

7

5

3

1

0

1950

1990

2000

2030

1970

2020

1960

1980

2010

2040

2050

Source: U.S. Census Bureau. International Data Base. August 2006 version.

Source: Weber, CL and Matthews HS Food Miles and the Relative Climate Impacts

of Food Choices in the United States, Environ Sci Technol. 2008, 42, 3508-3513

Rel

ativ

e In

ten

sity

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CO

1

CO CO CO

Beverages Cereals/Carbs Chicken/Fish/Eggs Dairy Products Fruit/Vegetables Oils/Sweets/Cond Red Meat

The selection of foods to be incorporated into guidelines in

not all the biologically relevant aspects of a food.

This raises several concerns:

certain nutrient criteria.

There is inadequate consideration of

styles of eating despite their capacity to provide

While PHAA believes nutrient adequacy by itself provides

that ensures the provision of foods that supply adequate

nutrients to ensure the continued healthy growth and

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There is little question that Australia is facing a chronic disease

crisis.

year on health.

of these conditions. Type II diabetes has at least doubled in

the last two decades3

While the evidence suggests that rates of overweight and

health service costs of their current high prevalence are yet to

and the net cost of lost wellbeing (the dollar value of the burden

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There is also clear evidence that certain foods contribute to the

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World Health Organisation (WHO)

Health

World Cancer Research Fund Recommendations

has reviewed

disease and osteoporosis to create cancer guidelines that reflect

disease.

range of body weight

Be physically active as part of everyday life

WEIGHT GAIN

)

land degradation including soil loss and decreasing availability of

arable land.

than transport and is only second to all stationary energy.

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Australia is particularly vulnerable to water shortages and

land degradation.

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ability of

y.

tralia is pa ularly vulner to water s rtages and

PRODUCTION

potential than CO

*CO

Source AGO, 2007.

2 *

Prescribed burning of savannas

Agricultural

Rice Cultivation

Enteric Manure

of agriculturalresidues

to include actions to

reduce dependency on

refrigeration through local

and effective food

storage techniques.

had run out of food and could

of the health disadvantage

change on food availability will

According to Julian Cribb & Associates

Every stage of the food chain needs to be considered when

Life Cycle Assessment

tropical fruit (because it is transported by plane) and

with beef having the greatest water footprint and vegetables

and

d run ut of food a

of t h disad

ange

Reijnders & Soret, Am J Clin Nutr 2003

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based foods.

Food production methods

Food waste

and according to

Australians are wasting all of

use of best by dating.

locally sourced food.Weber & Mathews, Environ Sci Technology 2008

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structural changes in food policy are required to address these

calories worth of carrots.31

Good food policy:

The PHAA believes there is a need to ensure basic food literacy

that food guidance is accepted and integrated by Australians.

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socially equitable.

to change their eating habits and eat less of certain foods are

The PHAA believes industry should be encouraged to use their

practices in line with international trends.

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policy with public interest at its core

public accountability for progress

Ensure the current dietary guideline review reduces the

burden of both chronic disease and addresses the re-

emergence of deficiency related disease by:

and prevention of chronic disease

have been shown to contribute to the burden of disease

Consider the environmental impact of our food choices and

develop public health nutrition recommendations that:

the region

Consider the social inequalities in our society and

ensure that:

ethically responsible

including disadvantaged groups and future generations

www.phaa.net.au

whole foods

food supply and register support at www.phaa.net.au

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McMichael AJ. Integrating nutrition with ecology: balancing the

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Melbourne.

University of Melbourne.

Public Health AssociationA U S T R A L I A February 2009