The current focus on the problem of obesity in the Republic must not distract the Government and other stakeholders from tackling several other serious but related problems, an expert in nutrition warned yesterday.
Prof Mike Gibney, associate professor of nutrition at Trinity College, Dublin, said breastfeeding rates in the State were the lowest in western Europe. "That's totally unacceptable, and it has to increase."
He also said it was unacceptable that flour was still not being fortified with folic acid in the State even though there was evidence it would reduce the number of babies born with neural tube defects.
"From memory there are eight cases of neural tube defects or spina bifida per month, and that would fall to three or so if we had a national policy of fortification of flour with folic acid."
He added that there were other serious problems that needed attention.
"We have a high level of iron insufficiency in toddlers; we have low calcium levels in adolescent girls and at the same time we have the problem of restrained eating in adolescent girls; we have osteoporosis in the elderly; we have imbalance of fats causing bad cholesterol in adults; we have imbalance of fibre and fruit and vegetables contributing to colon cancer."
Prof Gibney was speaking at the launch of the Nutrition and Health Foundation, which aims to help consumers to understand better the detailed information that is given on food labels.
The new organisation, which will also conduct research, is being established by food and drink companies through IBEC's food division.