Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to food and nutrition (A/71/282).
The present report, submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 70/154, is dedicated to reiterating the importance of a rights-based approach to “adequate food”, that is, nutritious food for all. It discusses the underlying factors affecting nutrition, including industrial food systems, unhealthy eating environments and the growing threat of non-communicable diseases, as well as the harmful effects of trade liberalization and unregulated marketing of food products. The Special Rapporteur outlines nutrition governance at the global level and considers its shortcomings, and recommends taking a human rights-based approach to combating malnutrition at both the global and national levels.
Access the official full-text report in six languages here.
Remarks from the Special Rapporteur
I presented my most recent report on right to adequate food and nutrition at the United Nations General Assembly 3rd (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) Committee on October 25th, 2016 at the New York City Headquarters.
The headlines of my report include the solutions to fight against all forms of malnutrition by highly processed food products, unregulated food markets and the oligopoly of big agricultural corporations as a result of industrial food systems. I urged countries to implement human rights approach to nutrition policies, interpreting right to adequate food and right to health as two interrelated rights.
Highly processed foods: Today’s food systems cause a significant dependence on processed foods, which have high sugar, salt and fat contents but do not suffice in terms of daily basic nutritional needs. This results in nutritional imbalance and micronutrient deficiency, which are strongly correlated to obesity and overweight. Furthermore, high intake of processed foods, when combined with other unhealthy habits (tobacco use, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity), significantly increase the risk of non-communicable diseases, which is one of the major causes of early mortality.
Cheap prices, high accessibility and endurance are the major reasons low-income groups prefer processed foods over healthier options. Individuals and families are forced to choose between economic affordability and nutritional balance; therefore, they disproportionately suffer from negative consequences of processed food consumption. And this problem raises a critical human rights concern by blocking access to adequate and nutritious food.
Unregulated food markets: The impact of unregulated food market becomes significant especially when we observe the aggressive promotion of unhealthy eating habits through advertisement, packaging or discount offers. Lack of governmental regulation and trade liberalization are two important factors that allow uncontrolled marketing strategies to be used for nutrition-poor foods.
Trade liberalization allowed major multinational companies to get a hold of the food systems and supply chains not only in one country but all over the world. Today, these companies have the power to shape the supply of the market and influence the demand through marketing in the developing economies. For the sake of profiting, these companies agree to use additives to increase the food product’s shelf life. Especially in the developing countries and poor neighborhoods, the consumer preferences can be influenced easily by the durability of unhealthy foods and the power of marketing. Children are particularly vulnerable to manipulation through marketing.
This issue is directly related to human rights violations. The domination of the food industry by major multinational companies results in cheaper prices and high accessibility of processed foods, bringing us back to the human rights violations due to the undermining of local food systems and protection of smallholder farmers. The states have the responsibility to respect, protect and fulfill the right to access to nutritious food for all by regulating food companies. For example, obesity has been on the rise universally, but predominantly in high-income developing countries like Brazil, China and India.
The violation of right to adequate food is not only related to economic inequalities but also discrimination against women, ethnic and racial minorities, unprotected smallholder farmers and indigenous groups. The governments should act more responsibly about uncontrolled actions of big transnational processed food companies and introduce regulations, so that the food companies cannot take advantage of society’s vulnerable demographic groups. Considering unhealthy dietary practices first and foremost as a human rights violation would be the most important step to take toward the promotion of healthier eating habits.
There are many good practices around the world and recommendations to governments are included in my report.