Nutrition policy in Finland.
The present study describes the main actions in Finnish nutrition policy during the past decades. The main actor is the National Nutrition Council, which provides nutritional recommendations and action programmes, and sets up expert groups to solve nutritional problems in the population. The main fortification programmes have been the iodization of table salt, supplementation of selenium to fertilizers and the vitamin D fortification programme. As an example of national legislation, labelling the salt content of foods is described. Finnish nutrition policy is based on a good monitoring system of nutrition and risk factors of chronic diseases, as well as active epidemiological research. However, the authorities have not often taken proposed fiscal measures seriously but have instead considered agricultural and economic policies more important than health policy.
National Institute for Health and Welfare, PO Box 30, FI-00271 Helsinki, Finland. pirjo.pietinen@thl.fi
Pirjo
P
Pietinen
Satu
S
Männistö
Liisa M
LM
Valsta
Sirpa
S
Sarlio-Lähteenkorva
D000368:Aged; D000383:Agriculture; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004467:Economics; D005260:Female; D005308:Fertilizers; D005387:Finland; D005527:Food, Fortified; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D009313:National Health Programs; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011356:Product Labeling; D012307:Risk Factors; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage
D005308:Fertilizers; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; D014807:Vitamin D; D007455:Iodine; D012643:Selenium