NUTRITION

Healthy eating. In December 2021, the Nutrition for Growth Summit was held in Tokyo, Japan, with the participation of representatives from approximately 80 countries, the United Nations (UN), the World Bank (WB) and the World Health Organization (WHO). At the end of the discussions, the participants issued the Tokyo Compact on Global Nutrition for Growth. Each signatory country also presented its commitments to overcome malnutrition by 2030, addressing issues such as health, food, resilience and financing. In the case of Latin America, Mexico, El Salvador, Bolivia, Honduras, among others, presented courses of action, highlighting the promotion of the development of a regulatory framework to improve the nutritional status of populations. It is expected that the countries that have made commitments will begin to promote them in the short term.

During the summit, participants concluded that malnutrition and the sustainability and resilience of food systems were aggravated, on a global scale, by the HIV/AIDS pandemic and climate change. Based on this diagnosis, the signed Pact proposes to integrate nutrition into universal health coverage as well as to promote healthy diets and build sustainable food systems.  At this point, the governments of several countries in the region adhered to the objectives set and presented their commitments to fight malnutrition in all its forms, in the different areas mentioned.

Most of the measures to which they committed themselves focus on specific forms of malnutrition, especially child malnutrition. In this sense, Mexico committed to reduce overweight and obesity; El Salvador seeks to reduce malnutrition resulting from the consumption of sugary drinks and low vegetable intake; the government of Honduras aims to implement the National Policy and Strategy for Food and Nutritional Security 2030; and Bolivia is committed to promoting healthy habits through traditional foods.

Finally, it is worth mentioning that the commitments agreed include actions that food companies participating in the event will seek to promote. These include initiatives such as increased investment in nutrition, promotion of healthy diets, reduction of food waste, incorporation of a corporate nutrition policy to improve productivity and staff health, among others. Some of these companies are: Cargill, Griffith Foods, Unilever, among others.

Next steps

During the summit, it was highlighted that there are still no global efforts to achieve the nutrition goals for 2030 and that child malnutrition continues to be alarming. Therefore, participants agreed to intensify measures and join forces to achieve healthy diets and overcome malnutrition. At this point, the signatory countries are expected to start implementing the commitments made in the short term.

Opportunity for engagement

The agreement reached in Tokyo highlights the need for the participation of the private sector, especially food companies, since it indicates that they play an essential role in the transformation of the food system, as they enable access to healthy, affordable and sustainable food. At this point, food companies could continue to promote the commitment to improve the nutritional quality of the products they offer as well as the diet of their employees.