(New York, 27 September 2018) FoodDrinkEurope, the European food and drink manufacturers organisation, welcomes today’s adoption by world leaders of the political declaration [1]  at the Third High Level Meeting on the prevention and control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), as part of this week’s General Assembly of the United Nations (UNGA) in New York.

 

FoodDrinkEurope’s participation in the UNGA’s High Level Meeting, a first time ever, provides a strong statement of the European food and drink industry’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in particular the shared responsibility and interest it has in addressing global and European nutrition and health challenges. 

 

In the political declaration, Heads of State and Government of all UN countries recognise the important role the private sector plays in the prevention, control and treatment of NCDs. They invite the private sector to strengthen its commitment and contributions in areas of safe and healthy working environments, to continue to produce, reformulate and promote foods consistent with a healthy diet, to engage in responsible marketing and advertising to children, and to contribute to reducing the harmful use of alcohol [2].

 

FoodDrinkEurope pledges its support to help implement the political declaration and further strengthen actions where possible. The European food and drink manufacturing industry acknowledges that it has a key role to play in helping to turn the tide and halt the rising trend of obesity and diet-related NCDs in the European Union (EU). This is why, for a long time already, actions have been taken in core areas which contribute to more balanced diets and healthier lifestyles, including product formulation and innovation, consumer information, responsible marketing and advertising, and promoting healthy lifestyles. A snapshot of actions and progress can be found on FoodDrinkEurope’s dedicated Eat & Live Well website.   

 

Obviously no one player can achieve SDGs on its own; FoodDrinkEurope therefore calls on governments and other stakeholders – especially those in the EU – to mobilise and join forces (see our call for action), stepping up joint action in the fight against malnutrition and diet-related NCDs. 

 

 

[1] The political declaration serves as a directional ‘roadmap’ for governments to address the societal challenge of NCDs, including those that are diet-related, for the health and well-being of present and future generations.

[2] In addition, Member States have committed at the multi-lateral level to “establish or strengthen national multi-stakeholder dialogue mechanisms […] for the implementation of the national multisectoral action plans for the prevention and control of NCDs”, underlining their support for a ‘whole-of-society’ approach in the fight against NCDs.  

 

~ENDS~