Updated Healthy Eating Guidelines Guide to Improve Nation's Diet
Monday, 28 January 2019
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today
published the updated Healthy eating, food safety and food legislation – a Guide Supporting the Healthy Ireland Food
Pyramid. The Guide describes in colourful detail how to make the best food
choices for health and provides practical advice to protect people in Ireland
from 5 years of age onwards against diet-related ill health. It will be of
interest to health professionals, catering services and food businesses to
support their work and enable them to provide safe and trustworthy information
to consumers about food. It was launched by Catherine Byrne, Minister of State
at the Department of Health with responsibility for Health Promotion.
According to Dr Pamela Byrne, CEO, FSAI – we live in an age where there are
so many confusing messages and information about food and nutrition and this
Guide provides independent and unbiased science-based advice that people can
trust. It covers how to make the best food choices from every angle –
nutritional quality, food safety and food law. It is a comprehensive Guide that
health professionals can use to help consumers make more informed food choices
and that the food industry can use to provide the best food choices for
consumer benefit.
“It is a combination of international best
practice with up-to-date Irish research to ensure the advice meets the specific
dietary needs of the Irish population. It provides food-based advice that
protects people from five years of age onwards against diet-related ill health
such as heart disease, cancer, obesity and diabetes, which are major causes of
ill health in Ireland. It gives this advice across four age groups from 5 to
51+years with distinct information for those leading active and non-active
lifestyles.”
Developed, in conjunction with the Department of Health and
the Health Service Executive, the guide covers portion sizes and servings; tips
for choosing the healthiest types of foods, as well as reducing risks during
cooking. It also covers:
Nutritional composition - how various foods
best meet different people’s needs
Food safety – microbiology, harmful
bacteria, viruses and how these can be minimised
Food law - to ensure
businesses are aware of legal requirements to provide consumers with accurate
information on nutritional labelling and allergen declarations
Catherine Byrne, Minister of State at the Department of Health with
responsibility for Health Promotion and the National Drugs Strategy stated: “I
am delighted to welcome the publication of this FSAI resource to support our
Healthy Ireland Food Pyramid and the implementation of the Healthy Eating
Guidelines. The Guide is an important tool which provides additional
information for health professionals, catering services and food businesses and
ensures consistent healthy eating messages.”
Incorporating clear
graphics and illustrations, this visual Guide provides easy access to complex
information. There is a particularly useful section on the safe and
advantageous cooking methods and tips on how to eat healthily on a budget. It
also highlights the role of categories of foods most beneficial to health and
recommends age-appropriate portion sizes. An extended section in the book on
meat, poultry, and fish sets out information for vegetarian diet options using
eggs, beans, lentils and nuts. The Guide advises on how best to introduce
gradual change for those who wish to try a vegetarian-friendly diet, for
example, through bulking up meat dishes such as stews and mince with beans,
lentils and vegetables. This includes preparation and cooking methods for these
foods.