| Abstract: | The diet typical of countries such as Britain has been identified as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and other conditions. Dietary guidelines have been published setting out changes to the nutritional content of the diet. Foods reach the consumer as a result of a complex system involving primary production, basic processing, manufacture, retailing and catering. Achievement of the guidelines can be facilitated or hampered by action taken at each of these stages. The author illustrates this by examples taken from each stage citing instances of good practice and areas with potential for improvement. However, the paper points out that the best efforts of those supplying foods can be undermined by inappropriate action by consumers and concludes that a concerted effort to implement dietary guidelines must involve everyone concerned with the supply and consumption of food with the support of various government agencies. |
