A national body was established today to advise consumers on nutrition and exercise to create a healthier nation.
The Nutrition & Health Foundation brings together industry, government, scientists and health professionals for the first time.
The group is set to tackle worrying problems like obesity, which has trebled in the Republic since 2000. One in eight Irish people is now obese and every second person is overweight.
The Nutrition & Health Foundation will be led by the food and drink industry through Food and Drink Industry Ireland (FDII), a division of employers' group IBEC.
"Bringing everybody together represents a novel and progressive approach to tackling the public health issues that we face," said Mr Ciaran Fitzgerald, IBEC Director of Sectors.
"Only by doing so in a clear factual way, will we bring about real change in our society" said He added: "We need to be proactive now in order to address the health of our young people, rather than risk the consequences later in life".
IBEC says Food and drink companies have contributed €1 million to the first three years of the Foundation's work but this figure "will grow significantly" as new member companies join.
"We will also be seeking to expand our supporter base from within the food and drink sector and beyond to other sectors such as the leisure and technology industry," added Mr Fitzgerald.
The body will get scientific advice through links with the Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance (IUNA), the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute (INDI) and the Exercise and Sports Science Association of Ireland (ESSAI).
It will promote healthy eating, carry out research on lifestyle habits and help consumers understand food labels. The body is linked to a EU-wide campaign led by the EU Commission's Health and Consumer Protection division.
PA