Is Food the Solution? The Safe Hearts Plan for a Better European Life

Event Description

Cardiovascular disease remains one of Europe’s most pressing public health challenges, with complex impacts on health systems, economies, and innovation. In the light of the newly-unveiled Safe Hearts Plan, this EFF event, hosted by MEP Vlad Vasile-Voiculescu, Coordinator of Public Health at Renew Europe,will explore how cardiovascular health intersects with food and nutrition, and assess the effectiveness of proposed policy measures to tackle diet-related non-communicable diseases. Policy solutions to address unhealthy diets are wide-ranging and have different track records of effectiveness at national and subnational level. 

By bringing together key actors from across the food value chain, industry, retailers, consumer organisations, researchers, and NGOs, this EFF dialogue will facilitate a science and evidence-based discussion on how food and nutrition can support cardiovascular prevention within a coherent, transparent, science-based public health framework. Beyond health, the discussion will also examine the economic and social dimensions (affordability and accessibility of healthy diets) and the policy measures (fiscal or otherwise) that can support these objectives. These policy concepts will be brought to life through a focus on city-level examples of improving access to healthy diets. 

The debate will aim to arrive at a constructive response to the question: how can Europe strengthen cardiovascular prevention through food and nutrition policies that are effective, feasible, and supportive of innovation in the food system? In line with the European Food Forum’s mission to foster dialogue and constructive, non-partisan debate, the event will provide a platform for open exchange among policymakers, researchers, consumer representatives, industry actors, and civil society. 

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Agenda

Moderator: Maria Teresa Scardigli, Managing Director, Kellen Europe

17:00 – 17:10 | Welcome Remarks by MEP Vlad VASILE-VOICULESCU

17:10 – 17:20 | Keynote Address by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare

17:20 – 17:40 | Panel I. Scientific & Academic Insights: Evidence on nutrition and cardiovascular prevention, clarifying risks and opportunities

·       Prof. Adam DREWNOWSKI, Professor, Epidemiology, University of Washington

·       Rosalinda SCALIA, Deputy Head of Unit Bioeconomy and Food Systems, DG RTD, European Commission

17:40 – 17:55 | Panel II. Economic Impact & Taxation

·       Eleftheria PSARAKI, Deputy Head of Unit for Behavioural taxation and other indirect taxes, DG TAXUD, European Commission

·       Adam HOFFER, Director of Excise Tax Policy, Tax Foundation Europe

·       Dan MANOLESCU, Tax Partner, Soter & Partners

17:55-18:05 | Collaborative Approaches: Enhancing the Food Safety Ecosystem for Better Public Health

·       Prof. Dr. Carlos Gonçalo DAS NEVES, Chief Scientist, EFSA

18:05 – 18:50 | Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue – The Food Supply Chain & Policy

·       Eduardo CUOCO, Director, IFOAM Organics Europe

·       Sara LAMONACA, Director for Consumer Information, Nutrition & Health, FoodDrinkEurope

·       João ALBUQUERQUE, Director for Advocacy & Political Affairs, EuroCommerce

·       Nadia FRITTELLA, Secretary General, Wine in Moderation Association

·       Andrea MAGARINI, Director of Food Policy department, City of Milan, Chair of Eurocities’ Working Group Food

·       Kristina VELKOVSKA, Chief Financial Officer, JA Europe

18:50 – 19:00 | Closing Remarks by MEP Vlad VASILE-VOICULESCU