Under pressure from non-profit organizations, the Brazilian government began a legislative process related to the protection and improvement of traditional food system. It would be a law in opposition to the governments of many industrialized countries, which have only partially surrendered to the obligation to protect public health, which is associated with the expansion of multinational food companies. This opinion, written by nutrition and public health experts in Brazil, was published last week in PLoS Medicine.
Carlos Monteiro and Geoffrey Cannon of the Epidemological Research Center in Health and Nutrition of the University of São Paulo, explain that Brazil, with its long tradition of the food system, has become a feeding ground for international food companies highly processed (np. „Big Food” i „Big Snack”).
This has contributed to the ever-increasing number of obese people, as well as the increasingly common diseases related to unhealthy eating. Moreover, such food began to displace the local national dishes, culture, it even influenced the way families functioned, social life, and the local economy. Surprisingly, she also attacked with an extremely strong sense national affiliation!
The authors of the article appeal – Changes introduced by law allow us to protect and improve eating habits, as well as care for broadly understood public health. Unlike most governments that have delegated responsibility for public health (so that multinational corporations can continue to expand their business), the Brazilian government still has an enormous influence over it.
The authors explain that thanks to the already existing law, Brazilian children attending state schools are entitled to one meal served at school. About 70% of the food served in schools must be fresh or minimally processed. Moreover, no less than 30% of these ingredients must come from local farmers. This allows you to measure what help is needed to save people from the flood of highly processed food produced by multinational corporations.
The authors also say – Despite intense media pressure to promote eating small snacks, dining in Brazil is still directly related to family and social life.
The authors argue that opposing the expansion of Big Food and Big Snack could help other countries as well. They claim that – Brazil’s experience can form the basis for a rational, compressive and effective public health policy, as well as for measures to protect and promote “healthy eating” in every sense of the word.
source: ScienceNews.pl