Towards a healthy, socially just and ecologically sustainable diet in Colombia: the NOVA food classification system

Abstract

The concept of adequate diet is moving towards a broader vision in which its relationship with health, social justice and environmental care is considered. However, the accelerated increase of food industrialization processes poses a threat to this idea. In this context, the NOVA food classification system emerges as a proposal that allows grouping foods in 4 categories according to the extent, nature and purpose of industrial processing: 1) unprocessed or minimally processed foods, 2) processed culinary ingredients, 3) processed foods, and 4) ultra-processed food and drink products. Worldwide, it has been demonstrated that there is an association between increased consumption of ultra-processed products, mainly due to socially unfair and ecologically unsustainable marketing practices, and the deterioration of diet quality, which implies an increased risk of chronic diseases. In Colombia, it is necessary that different sectors join efforts to build a food system that guarantees the human right to food with natural or minimally processed foods and avoid, as much as possible, ultra-processed products. Consequently, the objective of this reflection is to discuss the basics of the NOVA proposal and its importance in working towards a healthy, socially just, and ecologically sustainable diet in the country.

Keywords

• Food
• Health
• Justice
• Environment
• Colombia