FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

UK Government food strategies appear to be like the buses right now. Nothing for years and then two are published within the space of a week. The first, launched on 27 July, was Tackling obesity: empowering adults and children to live healthier lives, a policy paper published by Department of Health and Social Care. The second, released just two days later, was The National Food Strategy Interim Report – A Response to COVID‐19 published by Henry Dimbleby on behalf of Defra.

Whilst both reports attempt to tackle a broad range of issues and challenges around food and health, the main emphasis of the two reports and the associated press commentary is on tackling obesity and, more generally, encouraging healthy eating. The media has been very quick to focus on the food sector and the role it should play in offering healthier choices through reformulation of existing products and through clearer labelling. As responsible food professionals I know we will all continue to strive to do all we can with these goals in mind.

Both reports have been published against a backdrop of COVID‐19. The pandemic itself and the subsequent threat of a significant economic downturn have forced very many of us to reevaluate our lives and our life‐style choices. For some, the reaction has been to ‘comfort eat’ or turn more to take‐aways as a replacement to eating out. Others have taken to more cooking at home and eating more healthily. Sadly, others, due to economic necessity, have had to face the reality of having to rely on food banks. For those finding themselves with extra time on their hands, some have taken to running and cycling in parks whilst others have tended towards watching more box sets and binge‐watching TV.

And this, surely, is the biggest challenge of all when developing a strategy aimed at tackling obesity. Much of the success will, ultimately, be down to consumers’ behaviours and, in particular, their responses to the various approaches being put forward. Tackling obesity will call on the experience and expertise of the very widest definitions of food scientists and technologists – from those involved in new product development and reformulation through to those working in sensory and consumer behavioural sciences ‐ from those working in nutrition through to food regulatory.

The media so often use these opportunities to criticise and blame the food sector. Let us all take the opportunity to demonstrate the huge positive contribution that food science and technology can make in helping tackle this issue.

中文翻译：

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来自首席执行官和IFST新闻

从行政长官

英国政府的食品策略似乎现在就像公共汽车一样。多年没有出版，然后在一周之内出版了两本。第一项于7月27日启动，目的是解决肥胖：赋予成年人和儿童以更健康的生活的权利，这是卫生和社会护理部发布的政策文件。第二天仅两天后发布的是亨利·迪姆布雷比（Henry Dimbleby）代表黛夫拉（Defra）发表的《国家粮食战略中期报告–对COVID-19的回应》。

尽管两份报告都试图解决与食品和健康有关的广泛问题和挑战，但两份报告和相关的新闻评论的主要重点是解决肥胖症，并且更普遍地鼓励健康饮食。媒体很快就将注意力集中在食品部门上，并应通过重新配制现有产品并通过更清晰的标签在提供更健康的选择方面发挥作用。作为负责任的食品专业人士，我知道我们将一心一意地努力实现这些目标。

这两份报告都是在COVID-19的背景下发布的。大流行本身以及随之而来的重大经济下滑威胁迫使我们许多人重新评估我们的生活和生活方式选择。对于某些人来说，反应是“舒适饮食”或更多选择外卖代替外出就餐。其他人则开始在家中做饭，饮食更健康。可悲的是，由于经济的需要，其他人不得不面对不得不依靠粮食银行的现实。对于那些觉得自己有多余时间的人，有些人喜欢在公园跑步和骑自行车，而另一些人则倾向于看更多的盒子和狂欢地看电视。

当然，这是制定旨在解决肥胖问题的策略时面临的最大挑战。最终，大部分成功将取决于消费者的行为，尤其是他们对提出的各种方法的反应。解决肥胖症将需要食品科学家和技术人员的最广泛定义的经验和专业知识-从从事新产品开发和重新配方的人员到从事传感和消费者行为科学的人员-从营养人员到食品监管人员。

媒体经常利用这些机会来批评和指责食品部门。让我们大家借此机会展示食品科学技术可以在帮助解决这一问题方面做出巨大的积极贡献。