New nutrition strategy aimed at promoting health
The Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office's Nutrition Strategy 2017-24 is intended to help prevent non-communicable diseases.
The new Nutrition Strategy of the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) for 2017-24 seeks to improve the health of the Swiss population by promoting a balanced and varied diet. According to this strategy, everyone in Switzerland should be able to follow a healthy diet irrespective of their origin, income and age. To this end, the Nutrition Strategy is based in part on information, in order to convey recommendations for healthy eating in an even better way. But it is also important to adapt the overall conditions and make it easier for people to eat healthier food. Therefore, the strategy aims to shape the environment such that a healthy choice becomes an easy choice. Amongst other things, it is seeking to obtain the voluntary commitment of food producers and suppliers.
The FSVO has opted for four specific areas of action: information and education, improved overall conditions, optimised coordination between different stakeholders, and monitoring and research, in order to highlight any shortcomings and need for action. By the end of 2017, the FSVO will have drawn up an action plan outlining specific measures and measurable targets.
Preventing non-communicable diseases
The Nutrition Strategy forms part of the government's healthcare strategy (Health2020).
Seven of the 15 key factors for illness and death today are associated with nutrition and lifestyle. A balanced diet plays an important part in preventing chronic, non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer. These diseases are responsible for a large part of the healthcare costs incurred.