Monday, June 19, 2017

19/06/2017: Diet, nutrition and politics

by Ionnis Zabetakis

Let’s remind ourselves some common sense things that the politicians tend to forget 


 
Ionnis Zabetakis
1. We work towards the design, development and production of functional and nutritious food following as much as possible sustainable practices.

2. We care for the health of our family and the future of our kids.

3. In a wider and more, ideological context, we (should) care for the well being of Society and the Planet.

4. The public health is a matter of concern.

5. Healthy diet (with lots of fish!) should be promoted more openly. Now, let’s see some recent news coming from US [1].

According to this report, “Michelle Obama has made her strongest political intervention since leaving the White House, stating bluntly at a health conference: “Think about why someone is OK with your kids eating crap.”

So, why did she need to state this? Because, earlier in May, Donald Trump’s administration froze regulations that would cut sodium and increase whole grains served in school meals [2].

So, the story goes like that: Michelle Obama’s legacy on promoting healthy eating is in real danger by the current administration in US under Donald Trump.

This is the administration that denies climate change and the fact that the Planet gets warmer due to anthropogenic activities! It is quite clear from these stories, that when we work towards the 5 points mentioned at the start of this op-ed article, we are not alone!

We have to face politicians that are sometimes misinformed, probably a bit ignorant, somehow with their own agenda and ignoring the wider good!

However, there is a dead clear way forward that could boost our companies and products: to communicate to nutritional authorities and politicians the benefits of a healthy diet, the pros of eating fish and seafood and how these foods can promote health and inhibit obesity and cardiovascular diseases.

The world is complex and in order to be successful as professionals, as parents, as members of the wider public promoting the public interests we need to ask ourselves: Michelle or Donald?


Read the full article, HERE.

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