20 Organizations Urge Government to Approve National Food Security Plan
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
Twenty Israeli organizations are urging the Prime Minister to approve a National Food Security Plan that promotes healthy eating and reduces consumption of unhealthy foods. The plan aims to address public health issues like obesity and chronic diseases by making plant-based foods more accessible and affordable, while also tackling food waste and supporting sustainable agriculture.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Twenty organizations urged the PM to approve the National Food Security Plan.
- The plan promotes healthy plant-based diets and reduces unhealthy food consumption.
- It aims to combat obesity, chronic diseases, and health disparities.
- The plan includes measures for affordability, accessibility, and education.
- It also addresses food waste and supports sustainable agriculture.
Twenty organizations have sent an urgent letter to the Prime Minister, calling for the government to approve the National Food Security Plan. The vote on the plan was postponed at the last minute due to pressure from the Ministry of Finance. Among the signatories are Green Course, the Israeli Forum for Sustainable Nutrition, and "Food - A Jewish Response to Hunger."
The National Food Security Plan, developed by professionals from the Ministries of Agriculture, Economy, Health, and Environmental Protection with broad public consultation, is described as a critical infrastructure for Israel's public health future. It aims to promote national nutrition recommendations by increasing the consumption of healthy plant-based foods like legumes, vegetables, and nuts, while reducing the intake of harmful products such as beef, processed meats, snacks, and sweets.
Data presented highlights concerning dietary habits in Israel, with the country ranking third among OECD nations in per capita beef consumption, exceeding recommended levels by more than double. Conversely, average vegetable consumption is only half the recommended amount, and legume consumption is less than a third. These nutritional gaps are linked to the obesity epidemic, costing the national economy an estimated NIS 55 billion annually, and contributing to widespread cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and various cancers.
The plan emphasizes nutritional justice, aiming to reduce socio-economic health disparities by making healthy food more accessible and affordable. Currently, healthy options are often perceived as luxury items, while processed, unhealthy foods are cheaper and more readily available, disproportionately affecting low-income households. The plan proposes measures such as a growth fund for small and medium-sized plant-based food producers, educational campaigns, support for institutional kitchens to offer healthier options, and incentives for local authorities to facilitate direct farmer-to-consumer sales.
Furthermore, the plan addresses systemic issues in the agricultural and food sectors by promoting the prevention of food loss, which currently amounts to NIS 23 billion annually. It also encourages the import of healthy plant-based products and provides direct subsidies to farmers based on the environmental benefits of nutrient-rich crops like legumes. The signatories stress that public health is not a luxury and urge the government to fully approve and fund the plan without further delay, framing it as a test of leadership and basic national responsibility.