‘Food and Nutrition’ contains the compiled information about RIVM tasks, publications and research related to food and nutrition.

Improving public health and promoting physical activity are core tasks of the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). Physical inactivity is associated with chronic conditions such as coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, overweight and obesity. These conditions cause a large burden on the health care system and health care costs. Physical inactivity is a global public health priority. RIVM is actively involved in this topic, both at national and international level.

Food consumption data provide insight into the consumption of foods, intake of macro- and micro-nutrients. Also of potential harmful chemical substances and into food and nutrition trends. Food consumption data are essential for formulating and evaluating food policy, for public information purposes and for scientific research. Collection of food consumption data has been carried out since 1987 under the authority of the Netherlands Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.