The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) have invested £3.7m into a research programme that will seek to improve our understanding of the connection between diet and health.
In partnership with a consortium of 14 food and drink companies including Coca-Cola, Mondelēz, Nestlé and PepsiCo, the funding will support six research projects that will help to inform the development of new food and drink products that address diet-related health issues in the longer term.
Among the projects are studies that will explore novel ways to reduce levels of saturated fats, sugar and salt in foods, how to use environmental prompts to encourage healthy portion control and a comparison of the metabolisms of breast-fed and bottle-fed babies.
BBSCR executive director, innovation and skills Dr Celia Caulcott said: “Our health is closely linked to our diet and is important to us individually as well as to society and our economy as a whole.
“These Diet and Health Research Industry Club (DRINC) projects will conduct valuable research to address important challenges for industry and consumers that can be translated into real benefits for all.”
The British Nutrition Foundation’s director general and chair of the DRINC steering group, Dr Judy Buttriss, added: “I am delighted that six world-class studies into aspects of diet, health and disease are to be supported in the new round of Diet and Health Research Industry Club funding.
“All six have the potential to produce important results that could deliver real benefit to the health and wellbeing of consumers in the UK, and around the world.”
The programme of research in full
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