British Nutrition Foundation

With many people thinking about #weightloss in the New Year, we've revised and updated our webpage on obesity and weight loss to include more information on how our environment affects our body weight, the evidence behind a range of popular diets and how to spot fad diets. Find out more here https://lnkd.in/eDcXwzuJ

The INFORM Innovation Hub, is part of the The Diet and Health Open Innovation Research Club (OIRC), coordinated by the British Nutrition Foundation. https://oirc.org.uk/ The OIRC helps UK businesses collaborate with the UK research base to find innovative, real-life solutions to tackle some of the major diet and health-related challenges we face.

📣 Are you a nutritionist or a nutrition student who would like to volunteer for a charity focused on reducing social isolation through food? Our 2023 Drummond Community Award Winners Be Enriched, a charity providing free meals for anyone who is lonely or in need in South London is looking for a student nutritionist/nutritionist volunteer to work on a small four week survey project in Jan/Feb 2025 at their community canteens. Can you help? Contact hello@be-enriched.org for more details https://lnkd.in/g8-_N9Vv

Healthy free school meals can provide significant benefits for the most vulnerable children in our society and families who are eligible should not be missing out. We were pleased to sign up to this call by the The Food Foundation , FixOurFood and Bremner & Co for those who meet the criteria for free school meals to be automatically enrolled so that more children can access a hot, nutritious meal at lunchtime.

We welcome yesterday's announcement from the Secretary of State for Rural Affairs, Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE MP that the Government will develop a new national food strategy in 2025 focussed on four key areas; Food Security, Health, Environment, and Economy.   On health, the strategy will aim to provide healthier and more accessible food to combat obesity, give children a healthier start in life and support longer, healthier lives for adults. This builds on the Government’s existing work to tackle obesity and improve health.   The aim is to work with the food sector to build strong partnerships that enable the strategy to develop. To this end, the Government will form a coalition with stakeholders from the food sector including the food industry, academics and charities.   The British Nutrition Foundation exists to promote health and wellbeing and prevent diet-related ill health through evidence-based nutrition science. We believe strongly in working collaboratively to build a healthier, more sustainable food environment.   Obesity and diet-related ill health are widespread in the UK. We acknowledge that the links between food, diet, and obesity are complex, and need a systems-wide approach in order to achieve meaningful change. Therefore, this initiative, led by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which includes cross collaboration across Government departments, the UK devolved nations and collaboration from stakeholders from across the food system, represents a significant step forward. Department of Health and Social Care https://lnkd.in/e8sbR-J5

British Nutrition Foundation response to BMJ article published today:   In the article: 'Food industry has infiltrated UK children’s education: stealth marketing exposed', the BMJ makes reference to British Nutrition Foundation’s education programme, funding and governance.   As a team of nutrition scientists and educators, operating since 1967, we are committed to promoting health and wellbeing and preventing diet-related ill health through evidence-based nutrition science.    Food – a fact of life is run and managed by the British Nutrition Foundation, in partnership with the Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). The programme covers healthy eating, cooking and where food comes from, and is based on the food education curricula for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.   The content is developed by qualified teachers and nutrition scientists, based on government guidance on healthy eating and does not reference any food brands or companies. The programme is reviewed by independent Education Working Groups, which advise on curriculum developments and give practical review and advice.   We note that the article did not identify any issues or inaccuracies with the content of the Food – a fact of life programme.   Ultimately, the aim of the programme is to improve children’s health and wellbeing by making sure they get the best food education possible. We are proud to support the great work being done by teachers around the UK to inspire them to make healthier choices in our challenging food environment. The full statement is available here https://lnkd.in/ezMr3526

At our Annual Conference, Chief Executive Elaine Hindal highlighted that the day was about bringing people together, including those in public health, academia, community groups and the food industry, to look for innovative solutions to the diet-related health challenges that we face.   To view the conference and find out more about the challenges presented and potential solutions see https://lnkd.in/e8eY7smF UK Research and Innovation, Innovate UK. BBSRC, Department of Health and Social Care, British Retail Consortium

🏆 Congratulations to Dr Victoria Norton from University of Reading, who won the British Nutrition Foundation Drummond Pump Priming award 2024. This provides a grant towards a feasibility study, gathering results to allow for a larger grant application. Dr Norton's work is to develop a screening tool for dietary fibre in a UK context to quantify intakes and help initiate diet-related conversations. Julie Lovegrove

🏆 Congratulations to Katie Dalrymple PhD, King's College London, the winner of the British Nutrition Foundation Early Career Award 2024, presented at our Annual Conference earlier this month.

🏆We were delighted to welcome Sophie Tebbetts, CEO of FoodCycle to accept their British Nutrition Foundation Drummond Community Award at our annual conference earlier this month for all the brilliant work they do supporting communities with delicious healthy meals across England and Wales - congratulations! It has been great to work with Food Cycle on research to look at the impact of their community dining model - watch out for more information in the New Year!