Policy

Call for a Government evaluation of the link between nutrition and the gut microbiome with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic

Over the period 1-4 November 2019 the Society’s President Professor Julie Lovegrove, accompanied by the CEO Mark Hollingsworth, attended the Pakistan Nutrition and Dietetics Society (PNDS) 1st International Conference on NCDs as guests.

STEM for BRITAIN was founded by Dr Eric Wharton in 1997, with the aim of raising the profile of science among Parliamentarians. The event is designed to encourage, support and promote Britain's early-stage and early-career research scientists, engineers, technologists and mathematicians who are an essential part of continuing progress and development of UK research and development.

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) has today published the final version of its report, 'Saturated fats and health'.

The role of saturated fats in health was last considered by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy (COMA, the predecessor of SACN) in 'Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom' (COMA, 1991), and 'Nutritional Aspects of Cardiovascular Disease' (COMA, 1994). 

On 25 June the Society attended Links Day, a key science policy event held annually in The House of Commons. The event, organised by the Royal Society of Biology on behalf of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, brings together scientists, policymakers and politicians to discuss the issues facing the science sector.

On Thursday 13 June, the Governement announced that they are launching a consultation on plans to fortify flour with folic acid in the UK. 

New plans to fortify flour with folic acid in the UK could prevent up to 200 birth defects a year, public health minister Seema Kennedy announced today.

The Nutrition Society have signed a joint letter to Seema Kennedy, MP, the Minister for Public Health, calling for the long-awaited consultation on the fortification of refined flour with folic acid in the UK.

The launch of the consultation was initially announced by Steve Brine MP, the then Minister for Public Health, during Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Awareness Week in October 2018. However, since then, there has been little progress. 

In partnership with the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee (an All Party Parliamentary Group), the Nutrition Society were delighted to host a discussion meeting at the Houses of Parliament on 25 March 2019, titled “Nutritional challenges for a growing and ageing population.”

STEM for BRITAIN was founded by Dr Eric Wharton in 1997, with the aim of raising the profile of science among Parliamentarians. The event is designed to promote Britain's early-career research scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians (collectively known as STEM), who are an essential part of continuing progress in UK research and development.  Following Dr Wharton’s death, a number of learned societies (including The Nutrition Society) have worked together with the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee to continue the competition.

The annual Voice of the Future event, organised by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) on behalf of the Parliamentary Science and Technology Committee, was held in one of Parliament's grandest committee rooms on 12 March 2019.