European platform for action on diet, physical activity and health. Lots of talk, few facts, negative results. The system has failed and the associations representing civil society are abandoning it, slamming the door. All to be redone, here’s how and why.
EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, a European bankruptcy
The Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health was created by the European Commission in 2005. Aiming to ‘bring together all voluntary initiatives undertaken in the EU by business, civil society and the public sector‘ to prevent overweight, obesity and related diseases. The EU Platform was also supposed to promote ‘other initiatives at the national, regional or local level and by cooperating with similar forums at the national level.’ (1)
Obesity, overweight and related diseases continue to rise, in Europe as well as worldwide. In the adult and juvenile-infant population, relentlessly. The public-private synergies that the Platform was supposed to promote have led to promises and commitments that Big Food belies with industrial and commercial policies of the opposite direction.
The production of ultra-processed foods with poor and unregulated nutritional profiles promoted with aggressive and insidious marketing strategiescontinues. To the detriment of the health of the weaker sections of society and especially the youngest, children and adolescents.
EU platform, civil society abandons
European associations representing consumers and civil society-BEUC, EHN, EPHA, CPME, COFACE, World Obesity and IBFAN – are exiting the EU Platform. The decision was announced on 3.7.19, in a concise but effective press release. ‘The platform, in its current operation, is not fit for purpose‘ for which it was established. (2) This was predictable news, after the same organizations-which had participated in the working group for more than a decade-had complained in vain to the European Commission about serious organizational and programmatic shortcomings on 3.4.19.
Financial resources to promote the body’s activities and the frequency of its plenary meetings-from 5 in 2005 to 2 in 2018-have gradually dwindled. Political interest has waned, as evidenced by the decades-long delay on nutrient profiles, which the Commission was supposed to establish based on a special mandate from the European legislature. Evidence of a lack of interest at all justified. And the associations insisted, to the last, on the resumption of a serious and constructive dialogue with the European Commission, DG Sante, on the development of effective strategies and policies.
‘We had asked for a meeting with the Commission services before the end of this term. Unfortunately, the Commission has not acceded to this request of ours for constructive dialogue, and this is particularly disappointing given that the Commission itself is currently reviewing and considering the future of the platform… […] At this time, we do not believe that the continued participation in the platform of civil society through our organizations is a productive use of our resources‘. (3)
Obesity, overweight and related diseases, what to do?
The inability of the Brussels forum to reverse-or at least mitigate-the growing trend of obesity, overweight and related diseases has been denounced on repeated occasions, including on our Great Italian Food Trade website. (4) Big Food has externalized onto national health systems the rising costs of chronicNon-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) caused by its own scripted policies. And the European Commission, Directorate General on Health and Food Safety has failed in its duties.
The European nutrition policy theater has failed; we need to start from scratch and introduce cogent measures. Starting with the introduction of the Nutri-Score, which is to be made mandatory at the European level on food labels. At least on ultra-processed foods, to be further restricted when nutritionally unbalanced. Simple but effective measures, such as a ban on junk food marketing, purpose taxation and serious nutrition education programs.
Dario Dongo and Giulia Caddeo
Notes
(1) European Commission. (2005). Green Paper ‘Promoting healthy diets and physical activity: a European dimension in the prevention of overweight, obesity and chronic diseases‘
(2) BEUC et al., press release 3.7.19, at https://www.beuc.eu/publications/beuc-x-2019-039_statement_on_leaving_platform.pdf
(4) See also previous articles https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/salute/obesità-infantile-una-sfida-in-salita, https://www.foodagriculturerequirements.com/approfondimenti_1/food-product-improvement-criteri-nutrizionali-e-marketing-come-affrontare-la-crescente-epidemia-di-obesità-e-diabete#
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
Graduated in law, master in Food, Law & Finance. You have explored the theme of green procurement and urban food policies in the International Cooperation and Peace sector of the City of Turin.
