Beyond the pyramid: creating a Food Policy Council in Cork

Sage, Colin; Cahill, Denise

Beyond the pyramid: creating a Food Policy Council in Cork

Files

Beyond the Pyramid.pdf(308.1 KB)

Accepted Version

Date

2023

Authors

Sage, Colin

Cahill, Denise

Publisher

Cork City Libraries

Abstract

While there is much pride in the way agricultural production in Ireland has grown over the past couple of decades, it remains somewhat paradoxical that the food system here remains a relatively neglected source of concern to many. To differentiate the food system from agriculture is to pay attention to the many different elements and activities that relate to the production, processing, distribution, preparation and consumption of food (HLPE, 2017; Sage 2022a). In this respect it brings dietary practices – and their consequences – into sharper relief and asks questions about what different groups of people are eating and why. Invariably this causes us to recognise the existence of sharp social inequalites which are demonstrated not only by the types of foods consumed but by their consequences in dietary health terms. With rising levels of overweight and obesity, Type II diabetes and a range of cardio-vascular disease all tied to patterns of food consumption that are high in saturated fats, sugar and salt, there has been a gradual recognition amongst public health professionals to address the food system. Yet top-down messaging urging people to eat in line with the Food Pyramid, and to ensure they get their Five-a-Day has had limited success. Besides, such messages fail to acknowledge that individual decisions about what to eat are shaped by advertising, social norms and the pressures (time, money, commitments and responsibilities) of daily life.

Keywords

Ireland , Food system , Dietary practices , Social inequalites , Dietary health , Public health

Citation

Sage, C. and Cahill, D. (2023) 'Beyond the pyramid: creating a Food Policy Council in Cork', in Cahill, D. and O’ Mullane, M. (eds.) Commitment, Collaboration and Continuity: Celebrating Cork as a Healthy City. Cork: Cork City Libraries.