Background and Objectives
Most European countries set their own dietary recommendations. However, there is currently no standard approach and large differences exist across Europe, causing confusion among consumers, food producers and policy-makers. The ILSI Europe Nutrient Requirements Task Force evaluates scientific information on the nutritional requirements of different population groups. Currently, the task force works on nutrients such as dietary fibres and poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to provide support to scientific bodies reviewing and updating nutrient recommendations.
Impact
The task force initiated and supported EURRECA (www.eurreca.org), an EU-funded programme that developed a methodological framework for setting nutrient recommendations and relevant practical tools for its application. This framework was discussed during a workshop organised by EURRECA and the World Health Organization in 2012 with the participation of 26 EU countries, 4 Non-EU countries and different NGOs (WHO Europe, WHO-HQ, EFSA, UNICEF, FAO, EC DG Research, EC DG Health and Consumers).
In general, the task force assesses how nutrient intake affects nutrient status and related health outcomes, thereby contributing to a broader understanding of the building blocks of nutrient recommendations. The outputs can serve EFSA and other nutrient recommendation setting bodies that are currently reviewing and updating the recommendations for energy, macro- and micronutrients.