Consumers, food choice and nutrition education

This presentation deals with several issues challenging nutrition education and promotion. It starts with an overview of the present food system and the problem of feeding a rapidly expanding global population. Some example of ways in which the main food system sectors may incorporate nutritional principles will be described. The second part focuses on food choice. Various influences on the purchase and consumption of food are examined, including: the roles of sensory and other products perceptions, attitudes and beliefs, and especially cultural and personal values and social ideologies, as well as the broad spectrum of consumers' concerns about food and health. Their potential to improve or lessen human health is highlighted. Finally the challenges presented by new developments in the food and nutritional sciences and in education are outlined.