Sustainable and healthy diets based on health status and socio-economic risk factors of ageing population

Expected Outcome

Project results are expected to contribute to all the following expected outcomes:

• improved identification of specific dietary needs (including foods, beverages, food ingredients and nutrients) for the older population (above 65 years old) with a positive impact on their health, wellbeing, and prevention of any diseases (including those related to ageing);
• better understanding of sustainable food production and processing, and of the social and economic impact of healthy diets on disease prevention among the older population;
• improved knowledge in Member States and Associated Countries on how to develop at national, regional and local level the diet provided to the older population, in particular to those living in home cares or other structures hosting them as well as to people living alone;
• improved identification of innovative easy-to-chew food products enriched with specific nutrients and bioactive natural compounds, that can be included into the diet of the older population.

Scope

The topic is relevant to the EU policies related to ageing such as the Green Paper on Ageing adopted on 27 January 2021[1], the Commission Communication on Demographic change in Europe: a toolbox for action[2], Principle 18 of the European Pillar of Social rights on long-term care and the R&I Food 2030 framework.

Proposals should address all the following activities:

• map data on the older population in Europe based on their gender, frailty, social (loneliness, disabilities, etc) and economic vulnerabilities (low income, etc);
• develop and provide to Member States and Associated Countries a healthy and affordable diet programme (e.g. guidance, recommendation, etc) for the older population (including those in care homes) affected by malnutrition or at a high risk to develop malnutrition;
• develop and provide to Member States and Associated Countries nutrient and tailored food dietary recommendations to be used in home care and other national, regional and local institutions or infrastructures responsible for the care of older people as well as for older people living alone;
• develop and provide prevention campaigns and post-recovery programmes for the older population affected by any disease due to unhealthy diets;
• develop and provide campaigns which consider the sustainability of food categories produced and processed with impact on the health of older population.

Proposals should involve the effective contribution of SSH disciplines. The support of experts in economic and psychological disciplines for older population is relevant for the scope of the proposals.

Proposals should consider as far as relevant the results achieved under the FP7 projects: “New dietary strategies addressing the specific needs of elderly population for a healthy ageing in Europe”[3] and “Optimised food products for elderly populations”[4].

[1] Green paper on ageing - Fostering solidarity and responsibility between generations - Publications Office of the EU.

[2] eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52023DC0577.

[3] New dietary strategies addressing the specific needs of elderly population for an healthy ageing in Europe | NU-AGE | Project | Fact sheet | FP7 | CORDIS | European Commission.

[4] Optimised food products for elderly populations | OPTIFEL | Project | News & Multimedia | FP7 | CORDIS | European Commission.