The American Heart Association is calling for ‘innovation in the food system at multiple levels’ to usher in an era of sustainable and healthy eating habits in the country.
In a science advisory, the Association pinpoints ‘system-wide innovations’ that would support better diet choices among Americans.
“Innovation in the food system is needed at multiple levels- the food industry, agricultural industry, public health and medicine, policy, and among communities, worksites, schools, and families. In a healthy food system, the healthy choice would be the default choice,” said Dr Cheryl A.M. Anderson, the chair of the writing group for the advisory.”To create a healthier and sustainable food system and optimal environments where consumers purchase and consume foods, we need improvements in food production and distribution so that consumers have a wide variety of healthy foods readily available.”
Dr Anderson said ‘innovation is necessary to see improvements in the public’s health’, adding: “Examples include formulating new food products that are lower in calories and/or packaged as smaller serving sizes to reduce population-wide calorie consumption; improving the nutritional value of manufactured foods, product placement of healthier foods on grocery store shelves and pricing strategies to encourage purchasing healthier foods.”
