On the clear need to meet and learn to speak clearly: statement from the World Health Organization

Dietary assessment, a young subspecialty of nutrition science, includes most of the elements that are unique to the science. The lack of common definitions of terms, and hence, of an unequivocal terminology, often frustrates communication efforts in the field. Furthermore, scientists from the easternmost parts of Europe, whose career advancement depended for a long time on avoiding mistakes, may find it enigmatic that dietary assessment methods demand a focus on finding and describing errors. The opportunity to meet and exchange views in the classic way--by direct dialogue--that is offered by conferences such as this one should help to bring about the common understanding required for good communication.