We are
convinced that it is necessary that society and the state should have an official definition of healthy food, which would
act educationally and practically
in the direction of changing social
habits and improving
public health. We think that Serbia has a very bad
state of health, given that we are, among other things, second in the world with the percentage of patients with cardiovascular diseases (which is a
direct reflection of bad health
habits and bad lifestyle).
Nutrition is one of
the most important factors contributing
to this condition, and right to healthy food
and healthy living is one of the most important human rights.
Based on our research on healthy eating and healthier
lifestyle, we consider the following
definition of the healthiest foods, the most precise and the most appropriate:
By the healthiest food (in addition to clean air and water) we consider: fresh, raw, organic and integral (microbiologically and chemically proper) -
edible wild plants, grains,
vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and
fruit.
We suggest that, in accordance with this
definition (is it fresh? is it raw? organic? is it integral? and so on),
labeling of food should be done, which
would ensure that consumers will be informed about which
foods are the healthiest for them, in a way that
food, which meets the above
criteria from the definition of the
healthiest foods, would be marked by green color,
less healthier with blue, yellow and finally red. It should be followed with an
explanation on the label what is the definition of
the healthiest foods and how does some specific product comply with this definition.