Evidence v. rights-based decision making for nutrition

The need for an evidence base for human nutrition action is analysed in the context of human rights. Over the last 50 years the twin tracks of development, economical needs based and normative rights based, have come progressively closer in terms of goals and objectives, even if they do maintain different orientations and origins. The international human rights machinery is described, together with those parts that are of relevance to the right to food and nutrition. The role of the State in respecting, protecting and facilitating these rights is further described. The evidence base for the benefit of nutrition interventions during the fetal and infant period to the health and well-being of populations throughout life's course is briefly reviewed, and reasons why such a large body of evidence has not been acted upon are discussed. The power of nutrition is in prevention more than cure, and the prevention of nutritional deficiency is best suited to radical population-wide strategies rather than high-risk strategies targeted at individuals. The population-wide distribution of benefits of nutrition is in congruence with universality of human rights. In the UK much remains to be done to ensure that food and nutrition rights are realised, especially during the critical period of fetal and infant growth. What role the Nutrition Society might play in the realisation of these rights, including the creation of a robust evidence base for nutrition action, is further discussed.