Policy

The UK has been chosen by the World Health Organization (WHO) to lead the new Sugar and Calorie Reduction Network to take global action on sugar and calorie reduction.

Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, announced on Monday 13 September at the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, the formation of a network to work with countries across Europe to reduce sugar and calorie intake. WHO’s EU region is much broader in scope than the European Commission coverage.

Following Professor Whitty's announcement: 

The Society was delighted to have supported Links Day for the fifth year running, a key science policy event organised by the Royal Society of Biology on behalf of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee; bringing together scientists, policymakers, and politicians to discuss issues facing the science sector. 

Although usually held annually in The House of Commons, the 2021 event took place online on 22 June. This allowed over 300 delegates to join from across the world. 

Reversing the format of a Parliamentary Select Committee, Voice of the Future is unique event that allows a panel of early career scientists the opportunity to question Senior parliamentarians and government figures on issues relating to Science Policy. 

In partnership with the all party Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, the Nutrition Society were delighted to host a discussion meeting at the Houses of Parliament on 26 October 2020, titled “Sources, health benefits and global challenges of protein”.

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.