Nutrition and Food Safety
The Nutrition and Food Safety (NFS) Department is addressing the burden of disease from physical, chemical and microbial hazards in food and unhealthy diets, maternal and child malnutrition, overweight and obesity.

Food and Nutrition Actions in Health Systems (AHS)

The Food and Nutrition Actions in Health Systems (AHS) Unit assists countries with the application of essential nutrition actions delivered through healthcare and community platforms.  AHS develops guidance on programmes and policies, creates application tools, provides technical assistance, fosters global partnerships, and supports global advocacy to ensure that proven nutrition interventions are universally accessible to all relevant populations.  The Unit addresses multiple forms of malnutrition, including wasting, stunting, obesity, and micronutrient deficiency and supports improvements in infant and young child feeding.

Publications

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The WHO acceleration plan to stop obesity: a joint WHO/UNICEF operational model for designing and implementing the response

Obesity is one of the most urgent public health challenges of our time. In 2022, more than 1 billion people worldwide were living with obesity, a number...

SHAKE the salt habit, 2nd ed.

The document outlines a structured approach to developing a comprehensive sodium reduction strategy, including preparatory steps such as establishing governance...

Microbiological risk assessment of viruses in foods: part 2: prevention and intervention measures: meeting report

In response to a request from the 53rd Session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH), the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meeting on Microbiological Risk...

Documents

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Report on the fifth meeting of the Technical Advisory Group on Gestational Weight Gain

In 2023, WHO established a multidisciplinary Technical Advisory Group on Gestational Weight Gain (TAG-GWG) to advise on the process of developing GWG standards...

Afghanistan faces a harsh winter at a moment of heightened vulnerability and escalating humanitarian need. After multiple years of compounding shocks,...

In 2025, needs were driven by the complex interaction of climate shocks, prolonged conflict and insecurity, large-scale displacement, chronic fragility,...