The symposium addressed how traditional foods benefit health, are friendly to the environment and their production systems are intrinsically linked to biodiversity and culture. Therefore traditional foods should be promoted, and their importance should be transmitted to children so as to contribute to the development of self-conscious food choices from an early age with positive effects for their adult health and their natural environment. The symposium also addressed the global problem of food allergies and how environmental factors are linked to development of food allergies. Understanding this is vital for developing public health advice to protect children against food allergies.

HHF involvement

The side event was co-organized by the Hellenic Health Foundation (HHF), the World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe (WHO), The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Institute of Food Research (IFR).