ABSTRACT
This chapter evaluates a range of different food-based guidance systems in different cultural contexts. A national food and nutrition policy may be defined as a statement of intent about governmental action to achieve nutrient or dietary goals, explicitly taking into account the relationship between diet and health. Food-based guidance systems highlight the importance of a dietary pattern approach to the maintenance of health and a reduction in risk for nutritionally related diseases and conditions. Food and nutrition guidance systems form the corner stone of international efforts to improve action on nutrition as outlined at the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) in 2014. Nutrition advice continually evolves as new evidence comes to light and contexts, including social, cultural and food supply, change. The food industry plays an important role in the food system— ensuring that foods are grown and processed to meet the needs of consumers.
