The development of a food and nutrition policy for Australia has involved representatives from the public and private sectors, agriculture,food manufacturing, retailing, consumers and the media sectors.The policy has identified key areas for action in education/information, food supply, people with special needs and monitoring and surveillance. My hope is for the catch-cry of 'healthy food choices being easy food choices' to be a reality for all Australians.Australians can be proud of our safe and nutritious food supply.However, there is increasing evidence that, for some groups in the community, access to this food supply is limited by where they live, what
their income is and lack of good information and education. The result is a lower health status for these groups compared with the community as a whole.For the general population, the level of diet related disease is still
of great concern, and it is my hope that the implementation of this policy will go far in reducing unnecessary early death and illness.I commend the Oversighting Committee for its hard work and Professor Paul Nestel who, as Chair of the committee, played a vital role in developing this consensus policy.I am pleased to endorse the food and nutrition policy and recommend its adoption and implementation by all concerned.
