Please find my comments below :
· General:
o I reiterate my preference for food security and nutrition. If nutrition security is retained, it would have to be more clearly defined
o The whole declaration is still very heavy on agriculture but not enough on health and health systems
o There is hardly any mention of local food systems are sustainable ones to be strengthened.
· Multiple threats:
o Threats of malnutrition are a major challenge to sustainable development AND QUALITY OF LIFE. Nutrition improvement should also aim at improving individuals’ families’ and societies’ quality of life
o Food, health and therefore nutrition inequalities should be highlighted as a major concern. Paragraph 6 could be clearer on this. Inequalities which culminate in the double burden of malnutrition affecting the poor and women have to be the focus of this paragraph
o Environmental and societal changes ASSOCIATED WITH URBANIZATION AS A MAJOR DRIVER OF SUCH CHANGES (paragraph 7): The changes referred to are typical of the nutrition transition propelled by urbanization, globalization and technological ‘progress’
o The rule of profit is another obstacle to the Big Food contributing to health-promoting foods (paragraph 9)
o 10.b: A link should be made between obesity and the currently growing prevalence of diabetes, CVD and certain cancers
o 10.e: The sentence will have to be reformulated.
· Vision:
o What is the difference between ‘reaffirm that’ and ‘recognize that’? All these statements are well known facts...
o Can’t water, sanitation and hygiene be linked, under health systems?
o Health measures are also essential for adequate physiological utilization of food energy and nutrients!
o There is not a word about nutrition as central to prevention and control of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.
· Commitment to action:
o Much like my comments to the previous version, this all sounds like vague, non-compelling, idealistic wishes. Why not make an attempt at giving examples of successful initiatives?
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to react.
Best wishes,
Hélène Delisle, Ph.D.
Professeur titulaire et directeur de TRANSNUT
Centre collaborateur OMS sur la transition nutritionnelle et le développement
(WHO Collaborating Centre on Nutrition Changes and Development),
Département de nutrition, Faculté de Médecine
Pavillon Liliane-Stewart, Université de Montréal
Canada
Hélène Delisle