CFS Policy Convergence Products Database

Food safety is foundational to all parts of the food system and is critical to prevent and control the introduction of potential food safety hazards, including biological, chemical, and physical hazard, which may result in illness and death, such as food-borne pathogens, naturally occurring toxins, contaminants, including heavy metals, pesticides residues, residues of veterinary drugs, residues of antimicrobials, recognizing and using the CODEX Alimentarius Commission standards, guidelines and recommendations about food safety, OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code and OIE Aquatic Animal [...]

Gender relations and cultural norms are among the most significant drivers of hunger, malnutrition and unhealthy diets, particularly for women and girls. In many countries, women and girls produce food, make decisions about the household’s diet and influence the nutritional status of household members. Women are important agents for sustainable development as food system actors, but also as actors in their households, communities and countries. At the same time, women and girls are unequally burdened with responsibilities for unpaid care and domestic work and often face significantly [...]

It is important to consider, establish, maintain and protect the range and diversity of food cultures, social norms, relations, and traditions that contribute to healthy diets through sustainable food systems without undermining progress in gender equality. This section outlines the policy entry points to promote healthy diets through supporting people to improve their knowledge, awareness, education, and the quality of information available, motivations, skills and sustainable practices empowering key actors. Context-specific programmes and promotion of the healthy aspects of [...]

Food environments comprise foods available and accessible to people in their surroundings and the nutritional quality, safety, price, convenience, labelling and promotion of these foods. These environments should ensure that people have equal and equitable access to sufficient, affordable, safe and nutritious foods that meet dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life, considering the various physical, social, economic, cultural, and political factors that influence that access. For many people, access to healthy diets can be problematic as they may not be [...]