Sabri Ülker Foundation Draws Attention to Nutrition and Food Literacy with Traditional Conferences

The International Nutrition, Health Literacy and Education Conference, organized by the Sabri Ülker Foundation for the 4th time this year, was held at the Hacettepe University Sıhhiye Culture Center with the participation of national and international academics and experts in the fields of education, health and food. The opening speech of the conference, which was held under the theme of “Nutrition and Food Literacy”, was made by Sabri Ülker Foundation President Dr. Talat İçöz. 

The conference addressed the issues of food safety, information pollution in food, food literacy on social media and childhood obesity. In addition, details of the Sabri Ülker Foundation's Balanced Nutrition Education Project were shared with the participants. 

Prof. Dr. Korkmaz: “Nutrition and Health Literacy is Becoming More Important Every Day”

Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Symposium, Sabri Ülker Foundation Scientific Board Member, Hacettepe University Faculty of Education, Department of Educational Sciences, Head of Curriculum and Instruction Division Prof. Dr. Hünkar Korkmaz, said that nutritional literacy is one of the components of health literacy. Korkmaz noted: “Nutrition and food literacy is a subject that is becoming more and more important every day.  Increasing the level of knowledge about food and nutrition, especially at an early age, is also effective in preventing chronic diseases related to nutrition. On the other hand, information pollution on social media affects the decisions of all individuals in the field of nutrition and healthy living in their daily lives.  I believe that the conference, which is being held for the fourth time in such an environment, will contribute to the health and well-being of people by increasing awareness on food and nutrition issues with scientific knowledge.”

Özlem Üliç Çatar: “We Aim to Increase Food Literacy Awareness in Turkey with the Outcomes of the Symposium.” 

Sharing the details of the Balanced Nutrition Education Project of the Sabri Ülker Foundation at the conference Özlem Üliç Çatar, Secretary General of the Sabri Ülker Foundation, stated that they pioneered the creation of healthy living and proper nutrition awareness by facilitating access to scientific data. Çatar noted the following: “We believe that individuals with nutritional and food literacy gaining balanced and conscious consumption habits will contribute to the construction of a healthy future as well as the efficient use of resources. We believe that the outcomes of this international symposium, which we have organized for the fourth time with our mission to disseminate scientific information in the field of food and health, will also create resources for the fight against obesity, which has become a public health problem, especially in children and young people.” 

Expert Academicians in Their Fields Shared Their Experiences

Other speakers at the conference included Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Faculty Member Prof. Nur Baran Aksakal, Hacettepe University, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Department Head Prof. Zehra Büyüktuncer Demirel, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Psychology, Faculty Member Dr. Ece Varlık Özsoy, European Food Information Council (EUFIC) Director General Dr. Laura Fernadez, HEC Liege University International Strategic Marketing Master's Program Academic Director Dr. Nadia Steils, as well as the Ministry of Health's Director General of Health Promotion Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammed Atak.  and Tijen Coşkun from the Ministry of Agriculture, General Directorate of Food Control, Food Businesses and Codex Department also took part.

Source: HORECA TREND and Sabri Ulker Foundation