Position Papers
DC consults with members and other experts to develop opinions, positions, messages and advice on food and nutrition issues. It is because of this informed view that consumers trust the advice of dietitians. Our most recent position papers include:
Individual and Household Food Insecurity in Canada: Position of Dietitians of Canada
Print
March 03, 2005
The position of Dietitians of Canada (DC) is that all Canadians must have food security. Recognizing food security as a social determinant of health, DC recommends a population health approach to food security: that is, an approach that seeks to reduce health inequities through the pursuit of social justice. A population health approach addresses the root cause of individual and household food insecurity – poverty – through improvements to the social safety net.
DC strongly encourages dietitians to educate themselves about the issues and processes to achieve food security through social change, to use empowering strategies in community-based food programming, to conduct and apply research, and to participate in coalitions that advocate to create the conditions in which all Canadians can achieve food security.
(Can J Diet Prac Res 2005;66:43-46)
Canada enjoys one of the highest standards of living in the world, yet over 10 percent of our population - approximately 3 million people - cannot count on a healthy diet. They lack the funds to purchase sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active healthy life. In other words these Canadians experience food
insecurity. This position paper calls for improvements in the social safety net in order to address the root cause of individual and household food insecurity - poverty.
Download the position statement in PDF format:
Executive Summary
Complete position statement
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