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Listen to this siteMonday 25 March 2002
Minutes of the Nutrition Strategy Steering Group on Wednesday March 28 2001 at the Hanover Hotel, Cardiff Bay
Mrs Joy Whinney
Mrs Ginny Blakey
Ms Teresa Owen
Dr Jeremy Corson
Rob Wilkins
Dr Chris Llewelyn
Dr Brendan Mason
Keith Davies
Professor Bob Pickard
Professor Claire Wilkinson
Allan Davies
Andrew Jones
Dr Jane Ludlow
Phil Morgan
Claire Paisley
Hilary Neathey
Jayne Griffiths
Joy Whinney welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the steering group. Brief introductions of members/representatives then followed.
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Joy explained that the Food Standards Agency had been asked by Jane Hutt, Minister for Health and Social Services, to develop a nutrition strategy for Wales. The Agency had then successfully bid for funding to support the process and to undertake some preliminary work to establish a baseline from which progress could be measured.
Accepting that the broad aim of the strategy was to improve nutrition in Wales, then this needed to be achieved in collaboration with partners. Given the planned reorganisation of the NHS and the Public Health review then it provided a timely opportunity in which to influence the nutrition agenda.
However, it was recognised that the strategy developed for Wales needed to be consistent with the high level strategic nutrition framework being developed by the FSA Board at UK level and there needed to be a strong group to drive the agenda forward.
The increasing importance the Assembly attaches to improving nutrition was highlighted in published documents e.g. Better Health, Better Wales and more recently the Partnership Agreement: Putting People First.
Ginny Blakey agreed to explore with Agriculture Department colleagues whether any of their policy documents contained a nutrition element.
Action: Ginny Blakey
In outlining the process, Joy asked whether those present had any views on the membership of the core steering group and invited comments as to any perceived gaps of expertise. After some discussion it was agreed that the core membership of the steering group was about right but that representatives from important key sectors such as industry and the voluntary sector should be invited to join the wider working/sub groups which were to be set up in due course.
An outline timetable of approximately 12 months for the production of the strategy /action plan was broadly agreed, recognising that as part of the process there would be wider consultation involving the public. The FSA's review of the controls in place to protect the public from risks of BSE was described as a useful model for stakeholder participation. Following this model, interim reports of the nutrition steering/working groups might be placed on the Agency's website so there would be an opportunity for all interested stakeholders to monitor progress and also have the opportunity to contribute.
The overall strategic framework and timetable was agreed. Whilst some resources had already been secured to support the preparation of the strategy, it was recognised that there would be a need to bid for more to drive forward, drawing on FSA UK Research/ NAW resources.
In addition, the number of available staff resources devoted to developing the strategy was limited and the possibility of using staff on a secondment basis to drive this strategy forward would need to be explored.
Action: FSA Secretariat
The steering group agreed it should meet at six weekly intervals, alternating North/South locations to reflect the balance of representation, although locations in Mid Wales i. e Builth Wells /Llandrindod Wells seemed to suit everyone present.
With one exception, the draft terms of reference were agreed. Bullet 4, " identify and address barriers to improving dietary behaviour" would be expanded to include … "at a broader and public health level".
There followed some discussion and subsequent agreement of the need to take account of the nutrition work going on at a European and international level. Joy also referred to the establishment of the FSA UK nutrition stakeholder forum and how its work would have a bearing on the nutrition strategy work in Wales.
In reports to Ministers on progress it was agreed it would be important to flag up any practical barriers as they occurred in order to influence public policy sooner, rather than later, particularly when dealing with issues beyond our control.
Back to topIt was agreed that the next meeting would need to focus on setting some priorities for action. A whole day would be set aside .The morning would be devoted to the presentation of background papers; the afternoon to establishing some priorities for action.
It was agreed that a study of the epidemiology of the people of Wales would be a useful starting point for establishing some baseline data and would reveal nutritional trends (favourable or otherwise). Dr Jeremy Corson agreed to prepare a summary paper on this for the next meeting.
Action: Dr Jeremy Corson
Back to topThe discussions touched on the issue of available data from a variety of sources. In attempting to predict trends the point was made that it was important for survey data to be comparable.
Also if the steering group was to take account of inequalities issues, then the socio-economic status of target groups needed to be an integral part of any future surveys such as those undertaken by FSA and HPD.
It was recognised that there was already material covering existing good practice national and international models (Victoria, Australia was specifically mentioned); nutrition research projects, such as those currently commissioned by FSA Wales and the National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease. All of these could provide useful background baseline data.
The recent findings from the NAO obesity report (England); the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (young people) and the National Food Survey would be of particular relevance to the early deliberations of the group. Dr Claire Paisley was asked to prepare a paper summarising the findings of these reports for the next meeting.
Action: Dr Claire Paisley
7. Education
The discussions then centred on the importance of food education on the school curriculum. It was agreed that it was inevitable that this would emerge as an area of priority. It would therefore be important to gather data on the existing education resources available, including those produced by the media (e.g. the BBC were currently developing the digital curriculum over the next 5 years or so). Engaging with broadcasters at an early stage was agreed by all to be the key to influencing the communication of nutritional messages through the media.
The recently published ACCAC guidance, "Food in the curriculum" was highlighted.
The group recognised the expertise of this Authority and it was agreed that at some stage they should brief the steering group on where food sat on the curriculum and provide a summary of the various teaching resources available (which would include those supplied by/via FSA) to support food teaching in the D&T, Science and PSE orders in the curriculum. (DN:
A paper would be presented at the next or subsequent meeting?)
Action: Keith Davies
Academic public health degree and diploma courses were seen as another area for influence.
Dr Jeremy Corson undertook to raise this issue with fellow steering group member Professor Claire Wilkinson of the University of Wales College of Medicine.
Action: Dr Jeremy Corson
Joy mentioned the recent joint guidance from FSA in England and the Department of Health for teaching healthier catering practices in catering colleges (particularly NVQ courses). FSA Wales was currently considering whether this could be adapted to fit the Welsh context.
8. Public health context
The discussions then took a closer look at the changing public health policy context. These included revised BHBW targets to 2007; the establishment of the Public Health review group (to which Dr Sharon Hopkins, Director of Public Health, Bro Taf H A and Ann Hemingway, FSA UK board member, have been appointed). These were all regarded as vehicles for influencing change. There was also scope for local authorities through Directors of Public Protection to play a key role in driving forward the nutrition agenda.
9. Timescale
The group acknowledged that it was reasonable to assume development of the strategy would take around 5 years. Evaluation measures would be an integral part of any strategy in order to determine outcome.
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