PREFACE 9650 Rockvilte Pike, Bcthcjda. Maryland 200l4 • Telephone: (301) 530-7050 Toward a National Nutrition Policy The past year may represent a turning point in history. Numerous developments including the energy crisis, inflation, rising food costs and depletion of our food reserves have convinced many knowledgable people that we are now entering an era which will be characterized by a shortage of resources including food. The high energy cost of producing food makes it clear that food and the energy supply are inextricably linked. For the first time, the capacity of the United States to feed itself and meet its world food commitments is being seriously questioned. A world food crisis exists at this time, and this will have serious repercussions in this country. The first requirement of a food supply is that it provide a nutritionally adequate diet for the population. We must first supply what we need even if we cannot supply what we want. New attitudes, priorities, and a restructuring of responsible governmental agencies and their programs will be required if we are to deal effectively with food and nutrition problems that we face now and in the future. We must create the social and political climate which will make this possible and this will be a complex process. This statement on a national nutrition policy by the National Nutrition Consortium indicates the essential components of such a policy and we urge that action be taken now to initiate its development. D. Mark Hegsted Chairman, Board of Directors April 1974 FOREWORD Governments are established in order that man, through his collective efforts, may fulfill his needs for survival and security; and, with increasing affluence, enjoy the benefits and comforts that arise from shared abundance. To accomplish this, high priority must be given to protection of the individual by assuring him the best opportunity of procuring and utilizing food to fulfill his basic needs. The costs of meeting these needs and the level of abundance at which they are fulfilled vary with the socioeconomic, cultural, and technologic level of a particular society. Indeed, these features are everchanging as a society evolves from its earlj' primitive structure— concerned primarily with survival and security—to the complex, technologically developed, affluent organization as currently exists in North American and European countries. In these latter societies, the majority of the population is concerned with maintaining the standards of health, comfort, convenience and enjoyment that are unattainable by less developed societies. Governments of the highly developed societies have recognized new responsibilities of food supply, quality assurance and health protection that arise with developing technology. Large-scale technological production of foodstuffs has created unique circumstances that require new systems of regulations and monitoring; and new understanding by the public in order to attain maximum benefits with minimal risks. From the founding of this Government, in 1776 to the present, the United States has grown from a population of 3 million to over 200 million. The high standard of living and level of health of the Nation are results of technologic development. The technologic application of science in agriculture makes it possible for less than 4 percent of the population to produce the abundant agricultural supply of this Nation—in striking contrast to the earlier situation, and that pertaining today in developing countries, where 60 percent to 80 percent of the population are engaged in agriculture with living and health standards in marked contrast to those of the United States. Accordingly, a concise statement of a National Nutrition Policy is timely and desirable. The National Nutrition Consortium—representing four major scientific and professional societies,1 the membership of which have responsibilities for developing, through research, new knowledge in nutrition and food science in relation to man's needs for health—has addressed itself to preparation of guidelines for 1 The American Institute of Nutrition, The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, The American Dietetic Association, and The Institute of Food Technology. The organizations have a combined membership of approximately 40,000 scientifically trained professionals.' a National Nutrition Policy. These are presented'in order to identify the many considerations to be brought into focus in effective longrange governmental planning and implementation of programs for foods and nutrition in relation to the Nation's health and other national responsibilities) --'.(-. - .'. '-.'-. :«-: i«.K :.',;- .: I. Need For A Stated National Ntttrition PoLiev . A stated National. Nutrition Policy is needed to ensure that food will be available to provide an.adequate- diet at a reasonable cost to every person within the United States. Food to provide good nutrition is a fundamental need.of everyfmember ofisociety.'In order that he may utilize food to greatest be^fit, .the individual must have some basic understanding of food and nutritidn inrelation to requirements for health—including information concerning thenproducts which he purchases. .:;.. .'..-:..'; - -''.i '«-. >:.-.' '.-.i-!--i.i -'--r:f; ' ." Nutrient requirements .of. the population should .be defined: and translated into terms of.-food in developing plans' for food production at the agricultural and manufacturing level. The' nutritional contribution of foods as well as their>eeonomic. importance must receive consideration. Agricultural and; nutritional policies- should- be coordinated. The production of sufficient food to fulfill the needs of all segments of the population must be accompanied by an adequate distribution system. The quality and safety of the food supply must be assured by quality control of production and by regulatory controls and surveillance. A National Nutrition Policy is needed to fulfill our commitments as a Nation—in cooperation with other nations and international organizations—in planning and devising measures for provision of adequate food for the expanding world population. This includes the maintenance of adequate world reserves of food, provision of technical assistance to developing nations, participation in world trade and assistance in provision of foods in emergency situations are important aspects of international nutrition responsibilities. II. Goals Of A National Nutrition Policy The goals of a National Nutrition Policy should be to: 1. Assure an adequate wholesome food supply at reasonable cost to meet the needs of all segments of the population. This supply to be available at a level consistent with the affordable lifestyle of the era. '/ . 2. Maintain food resources-sufficient to meet emergency needs; and to fulfill a responsible role as a Nation in meeting world food needs. «<; 3. Develop a level of sound public knowledge and responsible understanding of nutrition and foods that 'will promote maximal nutritional health. 4. Maintain a system of. quality and safety control that justifies public confidence in its food supply. 5. Support research and education in.foods and nutrition with adequate resources and reasoned priorities to solve important current problems and to permit exploratory basic research. III. Measures To Attain Goals ... '' To attain these goals, it is essential to: 1. Maintain surveillance of the nutritional status of the population and determine the nature of nutritional problems observed. 2. Develop programs within the health care system that will prevent and rectify nutritional problems. 3. Assist the health professions in coordinated efforts to improve the nutritional status of the population through the life cycle. 4. Develop programs for nutrition education for both health professionals and the general public. 5. Identify areas in which nutrition knowledge is inadequate, and foster research to provide this knowledge. 6. Assemble information on the food supply—including food production and distribution—and provide a nutritional input in the regulation of foreign agricultural trade. 7. Determine the nutrient composition of foods and promote and monitor food quality and safety. 8. Cooperate with other nations and international agencies in developing measures for solving the world's food and nutrition problems. IV. Programs Needed To Meet Objectives Seven major phases are needed; they are: 1. The nutritional status of all segments of the United States population should be monitored continuously with periodic national reporting of: a. the prevalence of specific nutritional problems; b. the effects of various preventive and remedial programs on nutritional status and on prevalence of nutritional problems; and, c. food consumption of various population groups. 2. Nutrition programs should be established and expanded in the Health Care system, giving consideration to the following points: a. Maintenance of good nutrition in all segments of the population should be promoted through Health Care Centers—clinics, hospitals, neighborhood centers—which should be responsible for nutritional diagnosis and counselling. Good nutritional practices should be an integral part of services in nursing homesy day care centers, orphanages, prisons and other institutions. b. Alleviation of malnutrition in disadvantaged groups is of high priority. These groups include the poor, those at high risk, infants, pregnant women, the elderly, migrant .,'.' workers and other minority groups. Programs may include food stamps, commodity distribution, food supplements, and school feeding'programs. c. The prevention and therapy of nutritional problems is a continuing public health responsibility. Current problems include anemia, obesity, delayed growth and development of |