[getsmart-l] Says Slater, Currently no Canadian food policy exists . . .

[John O'Gorman]

For immediate release April 27, 2007

Dietitians of Canada Position Paper on Community Food Security Launched

Dietitians Call for Actions that Ensure a Safe, Healthy, Sustainable
Food Supply with Equal Access By All

TORONTO, Ontario, Canada.  

Community Food Security (CFS), a Position of Dietitians of
Canada (DC) released today, calls for a sustainable food system that
maximizes healthy choices, community self-reliance and equal access to
food for everyone.  While clearly this is a worthy goal, it is not
without substantial challenges to make it a reality.  Appropriate long
term planning, comprehensive approaches and engagement of a wide range
of stakeholders focused on this common goal will be essential;
dietitians are taking a leadership role in working towards achieving
CFS.

While many food security initiatives are designed to reduce hunger in
lower-income populations, often through short-term relief strategies
such as food banks or soup kitchens, community food security is much
broader in scope and is comprised of three distinct elements 
environmental health; social equity and human health; and economic
vitality, says Joyce Slater, registered dietitian and author of the DC
position paper.  

o Environmental Health  addresses the importance of a viable
natural resource base to produce and sustain our food supply.
Stewardship of the land, air and water is central to the preservation of
the health of the environment.  CFS calls for reduced dependence on
fossil fuels and fosters a closer connection between consumers and
producers by encouraging the consumption, where possible, of locally
produced foods.

o Social equity and human health - focuses on the injustice of
hunger and food insecurity in affluent countries such as Canada.  It
links food insecurity to serious health problems such as obesity and
related chronic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and
some cancers.  Lack of easy access to healthy foods and the increase in
food safety issues related to the food supply, (e.g. BSE in beef, E.
coli in spinach), are other factors which jeopardize food security.  CFS
promotes social equity as a basis for full participation in the food
system and advocates for production and distribution methods that
promote health and safety of our food supply.

o Economic vitality  recognizes the importance of community
self-reliance and economic development through innovative direct
marketing and local processing methods which can strengthen economic
health of communities.  It also speaks to the importance of ensuring
adequate wages and appropriate working conditions for those who earn
their livelihoods from the food system.

Says Slater, Currently no Canadian food policy exists that integrates a
sustainable food system, public health and economic goals.  While
policies exist for agriculture, fishing, food safety and nutrition,
these are not connected through a set of common goals or through a
comprehensive policy framework.  It is becoming clear that harmonizing
agriculture, food safety and nutrition policies as well as developing
policies aimed at reducing poverty, are critical to ensuring national
food security.

The Community Food Security position paper as well as a related DC
position paper on Individual and Household Food Insecurity are available
on the DC website at
http://www.dietitians.ca/news/highlights_positions.asp  These are
important tools for dietitians and others who wish to work together to
advocate for policy change that will promote food security.  The CFS
paper includes

- A review of the literature and the evidence-base supporting the
need for CFS
- Examples of key strategies and actions along the continuum of
CFS that can leading to sustainable food systems change
- Indicators to track progress made  
- Examples of current CFS projects show-casing initiatives in
which dietitians are working with other partners to create change  
- Links to further reading and resources to expand ones knowledge
of the scope of CFS, locally, nationally and internationally 
- A glossary of related terms about CFS

Dietitians of Canada represents over 5,500 dietitians across Canada. DC
is committed to promoting the health and well-being of consumers through
food and nutrition. For further information on nutrition and healthy
eating, visit Dietitians of Canada award-winning website at
www.dietitians.ca.

Register to receive regular healthy eating messages
from dietitians  food and nutrition information you can trust at
www.dietitians.ca/eatwell.


Media Contacts:
British Columbia:                  Andrea Ottem          PH (604) 738-3481
Alberta/Territories                Susan Roberts         PH (780) 987-2002 X 1
Sask/MB/NW Ontario            Joyce Slater             PH (204) 774-5563
Central/Southern Ontario      Deborah Lay             PH (905) 668-7711 X 3114
                                          Judith Lawn              PH (613) 635-7034
Quebec/Eastern ON              Anne-Marie Hamelin  PH (418) 656-2131 X 2714 
Atlantic Region:                    Rebecca Green         PH (902) 457-5549

Message posted by: Lynda Corby, Director Public Affairs
Email: lcorby at dietitians.ca 

Deborah Lay, MSc., RD
Public Health Nutritionist
Durham Region Health Department
605 Rossland Rd. E., 2nd Floor
Whitby, ON  L1N 6A3
Tel: 1 800 841-2729 ext. 3114
Fax:  905 666-6231
Email: deborah.lay at region.durham.on.ca
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