Nutrition and food policy: the approaches of Norway and the United States

The Norwegian nutrition and food policy proposal, as outlined by the Ministry of Agriculture, is 'somewhat of a milestone'. It merits this designation both because of its comprehensive nature and because, although advocacy of national nutrition policy has a long history, the development of such a policy by government is relatively rare. In fact, in relation to the United States' efforts in this same area, there are at least three additional reasons why this document is remarkable: The goals of the proposed nutrition and food policy are based on scientific understandings of nutrition/health interrelationships. Real numbers, based on nutritional knowledge, are the foundation of the proposal. This is a document which does not rely only on humanitarianism, morality, or pious hopes for the future. The stated goals themselves are the desired end points against which policy must be measured. These goals take primacy over the institutional or functional arrangements of government structures designed to deal with nutrition. The national government takes itself seriously as an institution responsible for setting overall policy directions. The government's responsibility is first to the well-being of its own citizens, and, as far as possible, in congruence with the aspirations and needs of other citizens of the world.