National Program in the field of nutrition and diet for 2014-2020 and the Action Plan for 2014-2016 for the implementation of the National Program is a nationwide governmental policy document aimed at protection of public health and prevention of diseases caused by poor nutrition.
The main causes of diseases are excessive consumption of saturated fats and solid fats, formed during the chemical process of partial hydrogenation of liquid oils, sugars and salt, and low consumption of fruits and vegetables, that have become major risk factors for the complication of diet-related noncommunicable diseases. The Republic of Moldova faces a double burden of malnutrition. On the one hand, this is malnutrition and deficiency in the diet, which is typical for developing countries, on the other hand, overweight and obesity, which is typical for developed countries.
The diet has become more varied, the proportion of cereals is decreasing. Provision of basic food groups such as fruits and vegetables, meat and offal, milk and dairy products is low compared to neighboring Romania and Ukraine. Consumption data calculated on the basis of food available is important for tracking trends over time. The concept of dietary adequacy requires data on current food intake by individuals and populations, which are not currently available at the national level. Even though food balance sheets can indicate the availability of macronutrients and micronutrients at the national level, the distribution of these nutrients within a country and across populations is often unequal as a result of malnutrition on the one hand and obesity on the other.
The current legislation on labelling does not provide for mandatory information to the consumer regarding the content of salt, sugar, saturated fat and trans fat in foods. Promoting healthy eating is not a priority. Efforts to inform the public about healthy eating are carried out chaotically. Nutrition is not a mandatory part of the curriculum in educational institutions. While some elements of nutritional surveillance exist, this is not sufficient. A functional and sustainable system for surveillance, monitoring and evaluation of healthy diets, nutritional status and determinants, as well as their trends over time and space, needs to be established. Food security is perceived only as the population's access to sufficient energy. Agri-food policies, including subventions in agriculture, do not take into account the aspects of healthy nutrition. Intra- and intersectoral cooperation is insufficient.
The goal of the National Program in the field of nutrition and diet for 2014-2020 is to reduce the burden of preventable morbidity and disability and the elimination of premature death due to diet-related noncommunicable diseases, malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies. The specific objectives of this Program are: (1) to create by 2016 an adequate management in the field of healthy nutrition and ensure its sustainable functioning; (2) increase by 2020 the proportion of exclusive breast milk feeding in the first 6 months of life to 60% and the average duration of breastfeeding to at least 4 months; (3) reduce the impact of risk factors for noncommunicable diseases associated with inequalities and altered diets, malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies by creating an environment that promotes healthy eating in 80% of educational institutions, 70% of hospitals and 30% of workplaces by 2020; (4) reduction by 2020 compared to 2014: (a) consumption of saturated fats and added sugars by 3% and 5%, respectively, as a share of total energy consumption; (b) consumption of trans fatty acids less than 1% as a share of total energy intake; (c) total sodium/salt intake by 30% (less than 8 g/day); (d) Zero increase in obesity among children and adults. According to estimates, the achievement of these goals will help reduce the impact of metabolic risk factors on noncommunicable diseases, namely: (e) the average value of blood pressure in the adult population by 2-3 mmHg; (f) the average value of total cholesterol in the blood of the adult population by 5%; (g) average blood glucose value in the adult population by 5%; (h) spread of high blood pressure in adults by 10%; (i) 15% prevalence of high blood glucose in adults; (5) reorientation of the health system to strengthen the approach to the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases caused by diet, malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies through the provision of population-based primary health care services and universal coverage; (6) increase by 2020 the level of knowledge of the population in the field of healthy nutrition by at least 50%; (7) strengthening surveillance, monitoring, evaluation, and research in the field of healthy nutrition, nutritional status and influencing determinants, as well as their trends; and (8) achievement by January 1, 2017 of urinary iodine excretion to the level of 100-200 g/l in children aged 7 to 12 years and 150-250 g/l in pregnant women and sustainable maintenance.
Expected results: the implementation of this Program will contribute in the long term to reducing the burden of preventable morbidity and disability, as well as avoiding premature death due to non-communicable diseases caused by diet, malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies. By 2020, the following results are expected: (1) adequate management of healthy nutrition; (2) an increase in children who are exclusively breastfed up to 6 months by at least 60%; (3) the average duration of breastfeeding is not less than 4 months; (4) introduction of an environment that promotes healthy eating in 80% of educational institutions, 70% of hospitals and 30% of workplaces; (5) reduce saturated fat intake by 3%, added sugar intake by 5%, and to at least 1% trans fat intake as a share of total intake of energy; (6) reduction of salt intake by 30%; (7) decrease in the average value of systolic blood pressure by 2-3 mmHg; (8) decrease in the average value of cholesterol in the blood by 5%; (9) decrease in the average value of glucose in the blood by 5%; (10) reduction in the prevalence of high blood pressure in the adult population by 15%; (11) reduction in the spread of elevated blood glucose in the adult population by 15%; (12) zero growth in the prevalence of obesity in children; (13) the median excretion of iodine in the urine in children aged 7 to 12 years will be 100-200 g/l and 150-250 g/l in pregnant women.
The main causes of diseases are excessive consumption of saturated fats and solid fats, formed during the chemical process of partial hydrogenation of liquid oils, sugars and salt, and low consumption of fruits and vegetables, that have become major risk factors for the complication of diet-related noncommunicable diseases. The Republic of Moldova faces a double burden of malnutrition. On the one hand, this is malnutrition and deficiency in the diet, which is typical for developing countries, on the other hand, overweight and obesity, which is typical for developed countries.
The diet has become more varied, the proportion of cereals is decreasing. Provision of basic food groups such as fruits and vegetables, meat and offal, milk and dairy products is low compared to neighboring Romania and Ukraine. Consumption data calculated on the basis of food available is important for tracking trends over time. The concept of dietary adequacy requires data on current food intake by individuals and populations, which are not currently available at the national level. Even though food balance sheets can indicate the availability of macronutrients and micronutrients at the national level, the distribution of these nutrients within a country and across populations is often unequal as a result of malnutrition on the one hand and obesity on the other.
The current legislation on labelling does not provide for mandatory information to the consumer regarding the content of salt, sugar, saturated fat and trans fat in foods. Promoting healthy eating is not a priority. Efforts to inform the public about healthy eating are carried out chaotically. Nutrition is not a mandatory part of the curriculum in educational institutions. While some elements of nutritional surveillance exist, this is not sufficient. A functional and sustainable system for surveillance, monitoring and evaluation of healthy diets, nutritional status and determinants, as well as their trends over time and space, needs to be established. Food security is perceived only as the population's access to sufficient energy. Agri-food policies, including subventions in agriculture, do not take into account the aspects of healthy nutrition. Intra- and intersectoral cooperation is insufficient.
The goal of the National Program in the field of nutrition and diet for 2014-2020 is to reduce the burden of preventable morbidity and disability and the elimination of premature death due to diet-related noncommunicable diseases, malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies. The specific objectives of this Program are: (1) to create by 2016 an adequate management in the field of healthy nutrition and ensure its sustainable functioning; (2) increase by 2020 the proportion of exclusive breast milk feeding in the first 6 months of life to 60% and the average duration of breastfeeding to at least 4 months; (3) reduce the impact of risk factors for noncommunicable diseases associated with inequalities and altered diets, malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies by creating an environment that promotes healthy eating in 80% of educational institutions, 70% of hospitals and 30% of workplaces by 2020; (4) reduction by 2020 compared to 2014: (a) consumption of saturated fats and added sugars by 3% and 5%, respectively, as a share of total energy consumption; (b) consumption of trans fatty acids less than 1% as a share of total energy intake; (c) total sodium/salt intake by 30% (less than 8 g/day); (d) Zero increase in obesity among children and adults. According to estimates, the achievement of these goals will help reduce the impact of metabolic risk factors on noncommunicable diseases, namely: (e) the average value of blood pressure in the adult population by 2-3 mmHg; (f) the average value of total cholesterol in the blood of the adult population by 5%; (g) average blood glucose value in the adult population by 5%; (h) spread of high blood pressure in adults by 10%; (i) 15% prevalence of high blood glucose in adults; (5) reorientation of the health system to strengthen the approach to the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases caused by diet, malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies through the provision of population-based primary health care services and universal coverage; (6) increase by 2020 the level of knowledge of the population in the field of healthy nutrition by at least 50%; (7) strengthening surveillance, monitoring, evaluation, and research in the field of healthy nutrition, nutritional status and influencing determinants, as well as their trends; and (8) achievement by January 1, 2017 of urinary iodine excretion to the level of 100-200 g/l in children aged 7 to 12 years and 150-250 g/l in pregnant women and sustainable maintenance.
Expected results: the implementation of this Program will contribute in the long term to reducing the burden of preventable morbidity and disability, as well as avoiding premature death due to non-communicable diseases caused by diet, malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies. By 2020, the following results are expected: (1) adequate management of healthy nutrition; (2) an increase in children who are exclusively breastfed up to 6 months by at least 60%; (3) the average duration of breastfeeding is not less than 4 months; (4) introduction of an environment that promotes healthy eating in 80% of educational institutions, 70% of hospitals and 30% of workplaces; (5) reduce saturated fat intake by 3%, added sugar intake by 5%, and to at least 1% trans fat intake as a share of total intake of energy; (6) reduction of salt intake by 30%; (7) decrease in the average value of systolic blood pressure by 2-3 mmHg; (8) decrease in the average value of cholesterol in the blood by 5%; (9) decrease in the average value of glucose in the blood by 5%; (10) reduction in the prevalence of high blood pressure in the adult population by 15%; (11) reduction in the spread of elevated blood glucose in the adult population by 15%; (12) zero growth in the prevalence of obesity in children; (13) the median excretion of iodine in the urine in children aged 7 to 12 years will be 100-200 g/l and 150-250 g/l in pregnant women.
Title:
Government Decision No. HG730/2014 of 08.09.2014 on the approval of the National Program in the field of nutrition and diet for 2014-2020 and the Action Plan for 2014-2016 for the implementation of the National Program.
Country:
Republic of Moldova
Type of document:
Policy
Files:
Repealed:
No