The present document contains Norway's Action Plan for Improved Nutrition in the Population for the period 2007-2011, titled "Recipe for a Healthier Diet". The main objectives of the Action Plan are: (1) To modify dietary habits in accordance with the recommendations of health authorities; and (2) To decrease social disparities in dietary habits. In addition, there are general goals for the development of dietary habits, quantitative targets for dietary patterns, and sub-goals for the activities within the various focus areas. The general goals for the development of the population's dietary habits are: 1. Adequate breastfeeding in accordance with recommendations; 2. Increased consumption of vegetables, potatoes, fruits, and berries; 3. Increased consumption of whole grains and bread products; 4. Increased consumption of fish and seafood; 5. Reduced consumption of fatty dairy and meat products; 6. Reduced consumption of dietary fats, with a shift towards the use of soft margarine and cooking oils; 7. Reduced salt intake; 8. Reduced sugar consumption; 9. Reduced consumption of sugary beverages and other sweet drinks, sweets, snacks, and fatty potato products. The purpose of the Action Plan is to improve the dietary habits of the entire population, with a specific focus on children, youth, and the elderly as target groups. The present Action Plan emphasizes the following five strategies: (1) Improved availability of healthy foods; (2) Consumer knowledge; (3) Competence among key groups; (4) Local anchoring of nutrition work; (5) Strengthened nutrition work in healthcare services. The Action Plan further lays down 73 measures, organized in the following focus areas: 1. Communication about food and diet; 2. Healthy food in a diverse market; 3. Good nutrition from the beginning; 4. Healthy meals in preschool and schools; 5. Food and health in the workplace; 6. Nutrition in health and social services; 7. Focus on diet in local public health work; 8. Competence in nutrition; 9. Research, surveillance, and documentation; 10. Nutrition work from an international perspective. Some of the measures included in the Action Plan include: carrying out campaigns to promote the consumption of fish and other seafood (1.3); to publish a basic cookbook for everyday use in the population (1.4); to establish a national-level dialogue forum between government authorities, voluntary organizations, and relevant private actors (1.7); to stimulate product development of healthy foods and meals (2.1); to establish a dialogue platform for collaboration between the food industry, government authorities, researchers, and consumers (2.2); reform of the tax on non-alcoholic beverages (2.6); to work for improved food labeling, including enhanced nutritional information (2.8); to consider implementing restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy food targeted at children and adolescents (2.11); to provide up-to-date information on breastfeeding, infant, and toddler nutrition (3.1); to revise guidelines for food in preschools (4.1); to implement a program providing fruits and vegetables to all elementary school students (4.2); to encourage school authorities to restrict access to sugary drinks and promote good access to cold drinking water in schools (4.7); to assess how dietary considerations can be integrated into the workplace (5.2); to develop and implement professional guidelines and guidance for nutritional therapy (6.3); to survey food offerings, dietary habits, and nutritional status of users of care and support services (6.5); to emphasize nutritional considerations as a part of public health efforts in the planning processes at the county and municipal levels (7.1); to promote the establishment of postgraduate and continuing education programs in nutrition, dietetics, and the field of Food and Health and disseminate information about these programs (8.4); to enhance research on the relationship between diet and health (9.1); to actively participate in WHO's work on nutrition, both at the global and regional levels (10.1); etc.
Norvège · 2007-01-01