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The Food Transition Coalition, in which Utrecht ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� participates, reacted pleased with the recently published broad and long-term Prevention Agreement. But regarding obesity and healthy food, the food industry and supermarkets seriously fall short.

On Friday 23rd November Secretary of State Paul Blokhuis (Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport) presented the National Prevention Agreement. The Food Transition Coalition responded to this agreement in a (in Dutch).

“The agreement is full of non-binding and not very ambitious intentions. Where recent measures in the UK have led to a reduction of 35% less sugar in soft drinks within one year, the Prevention Agreement allows 7 years to achieve a reduction of 30%. Supermarkets get away without any hard measures. Considering their important role and responsibility concerning food, we find this socially irresponsible,” says Willem Lageweg, chairman of the Food Transition Coalition.

Roger Adan, Professor of Molecular Pharmacology at the ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� Medical Center Utrecht, also thinks the agreement does not go far enough: “The number of overweight people is still growing; obesity increases the chance for several diseases. It has societal and economic consequences and therefore it is essential that we work together on different levels towards a healthier lifestyle. The targets that are set in the current Prevention Agreement do not go far enough to really be able to stop the growth of obesity. A healthier lifestyle is a change in behavior that should start with proper education. In addition, healthier food should not be more expensive than unhealthy food. The government and the food industry should make firm commitments to achieve this. “

Food Transition Coalition
The Food Transition Coalition is a cooperation of about 150 front runners in industry, agriculture, horticulture, health care, science, education and NGO’s, who work towards a food system in which health, sustainability, transparency and honest pricing are predominant.