The UN Decade of Nutrition, the NOVA food classification and the trouble with ultra-processing

Given evident multiple threats to food systems and supplies, food security, human health and welfare, the living and physical world and the biosphere, the years 2016-2025 are now designated by the UN as the Decade of Nutrition, in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. For these initiatives to succeed, it is necessary to know which foods contribute to health and well-being, and which are unhealthy. The present commentary outlines the NOVA system of food classification based on the nature, extent and purpose of food processing. Evidence that NOVA effectively addresses the quality of diets and their impact on all forms of malnutrition, and also the sustainability of food systems, has now accumulated in…

• FD
  Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

  Awards: 2015/, 2015/14900-9
• CN
  Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

  Awards: 443477/2014-0, 2014-0