A Recipe for Health: The Urgent Need for Food Policy

Food insecurity and obesity are a growing threat to sustainable development that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought into even sharper focus. 
 
On the sidelines of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, Vital Strategies hosted a virtual discussion on the urgent need for more effective global food policies to combat food insecurity and promote access to safe and nutritious food.

Speakers reviewed some of the most effective and promising policies, including front-of-package labeling initiatives, present critical perspectives on the increased vulnerabilities to COVID-19 of people living with obesity and undernutrition, and offer guidance for governments and stakeholders engaged in this issue. Vital Strategies and partners also released a policy guide on creating effective front-of-package nutrient labels.

Moderated by Neena Prasad from Bloomberg Philanthropies, speakers included:

• Tlaleng Mofokeng, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health
• Fabio da Silva Gomes, Regional Advisor on Nutrition and Physical Activity at PAHO
• Jo Jewell, Nutrition Specialist at UNICEF
• Barry Popkin, Professor, Global Food Research Program at University of North Carolina 
• Nandita Murukutla, Vice President for Global Policy and Research at Vital Strategies

Princess Dina Mired of Jordan provided opening remarks.