April 27, 2007

For immediate release April 27, 2007

Dietitians call for actions that ensure a safe, healthy, sustainable food supply with equal access by all

TORONTO, ON. Community Food Security (CFS), a Position of Dietitians of Canada (DC) released today, calls for a sustainable food system that maximizes healthy choices, community self-reliance and equal access to food for everyone. While clearly this is a worthy goal, it is not without substantial challenges to make it a reality. Appropriate long term planning, comprehensive approaches and engagement of a wide range of stakeholders focused on this common goal will be essential; dietitians are taking a leadership role in working towards achieving CFS.

“While many food security initiatives are designed to reduce hunger in lower-income populations, often through short-term relief strategies such as food banks or soup kitchens, community food security is much broader in scope and is comprised of three distinct elements – environmental health; social equity and human health; and economic vitality,” says Joyce Slater, registered dietitian and author of the DC position paper.

• Environmental Health – addresses the importance of a viable natural resource base to produce and sustain our food supply. Stewardship of the land, air and water is central to the preservation of the health of the environment. CFS calls for reduced dependence on fossil fuels and fosters a closer connection between consumers and producers by encouraging the consumption, where possible, of locally produced foods.



• Social equity and human health - focuses on the injustice of hunger and food insecurity in affluent countries such as Canada. It links food insecurity to serious health problems such as obesity and related chronic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. Lack of easy access to healthy foods and the increase in food safety issues related to the food supply, (e.g. BSE in beef, E. coli in spinach), are other factors which jeopardize food security. CFS promotes social equity as a basis for full participation in the food system and advocates for production and distribution methods that promote health and safety of our food supply.



• Economic vitality – recognizes the importance of community self-reliance and economic development through innovative direct marketing and local processing methods which can strengthen economic health of communities. It also speaks to the importance of ensuring adequate wages and appropriate working conditions for those who earn their livelihoods from the food system.

Says Slater, “Currently no Canadian food policy exists that integrates a sustainable food system, public health and economic goals. While policies exist for agriculture, fishing, food safety and nutrition, these are not connected through a set of common goals or through a comprehensive policy framework. It is becoming clear that harmonizing agriculture, food safety and nutrition policies as well as developing policies aimed at reducing poverty, are critical to ensuring national food security.”

The Community Food Security position paper as well as a related DC position paper on Individual and Household Food Insecurity are available on the DC website at http://www.dietitians.ca/news/highlights_positions.asp. These are important tools for dietitians and others who wish to work together to advocate for policy change that will promote food security. The CFS paper includes

• A review of the literature and the evidence-base supporting the need for CFS


• Examples of key strategies and actions along the continuum of CFS that can leading to sustainable food systems change


• Indicators to track progress made


• Examples of current CFS projects show-casing initiatives in which dietitians are working with other partners to create change


• Links to further reading and resources to expand one’s knowledge of the scope of CFS, locally, nationally and internationally


• A glossary of related terms about CFS

Dietitians of Canada represents over 5,500 dietitians across Canada. DC is committed to promoting the health and well-being of consumers through food and nutrition. For further information on nutrition and healthy eating, visit Dietitians of Canada award-winning website at www.dietitians.ca. Register to receive regular healthy eating messages from dietitians – food and nutrition information you can trust at www.dietitians.ca/eatwell.


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MEDIA CONTACTS:

British Columbia:
Andrea Ottem PH (604) 738-3481

Alberta/Territories
Susan Roberts PH (780) 987-2002 X 1

Sask/MB/NW Ontario
Joyce Slater PH (204) 774-5563

Central/Southern Ontario
Deborah Lay PH (905) 668-7711 X 3114
Judith Lawn PH (613) 635-7034

Quebec/Eastern ON
Anne-Marie Hamelin PH (418) 656-2131 X 2714

Atlantic Region
Rebecca Green PH (902) 457-5549