Nordic Countries display healthy lifestyles and food culture in St. Petersburg
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
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Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
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Press release 180/2007
17 September 2007
The Northern Taste Dimension is the theme of the Nordic Food Week being held in St. Petersburg this week. The aim of the week is to increase familiarity with Nordic cuisine and food culture in Northwestern Russia, particularly in St. Petersburg. At the same time, the possibilities of Nordic cooperation are presented and the links between food, wellbeing and health are highlighted.
The organisers are the Nordic Council of Ministers under the leadership of Finland, the research board NordForsk, which operates under the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Nordic Innovation Centre NICe and the Nordic Council of Ministers Information Office in St. Petersburg. Finfood and Viexpo are also participating in the event, which has a steady programme from Monday, 17 September to Friday, 21 September.
Minister for Nordic Cooperation of Finland Jan Vapaavuori will open one aspect of the Nordic Food week, the Nordic Cooperation and New Nordic Food Seminar, at Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace on Tuesday, 18 September.
On Wednesday 19 September, Minister of Health and Social Services Paula Risikko will deliver a talk on the promotion of healthy food and healthy lifestyles in the Nordic countries. In Minister Risikko’s opinion, it is important to adopt health promotion thinking in all policy sectors; this approach means that consideration is given to the health perspective in all actions and decision-making.
On Thursday, 20 September, food industry representatives from Finland, the other Nordic countries and Russia will hold a panel discussion, moderated by Heikki Juutinen, Director General of the Finnish Food and Drink Industries’ Federation.
During the week, more than 20 people ranging from government ministers to experts in the field, and coming from Russia and the Nordic countries, will speak at three different seminars. Halldór Ásgrímsson, Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, will also attend. In connection with the theme week, more than 30 food industry companies and organisations from the Nordic countries will exhibit their products and other material at Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace and will present their activities to the people of St. Petersburg.
Health and food figure prominently in the Nordic Council of Ministers’ current action plan. The main goal is to give everyone the chance for healthy nutrition by serving varied and safe food. Special attention is paid to children and young people so that they would avoid unhealthy choices in life. One of the most important goals is to prevent obesity through physical activity.
The Nordic Council of Ministers also invests in supporting the Northern Dimension policy and carries out extensive cooperation in Northwest Russia. The office in St. Petersburg has a staff of fifteen people.
Additional information: Harri Mäki-Reinikka, Chief of the Secretariat for Nordic Cooperation, mobile tel. +358 40 731 2856, and Kristina Pingoud, Deputy Chief of the Secretariat for Nordic Cooperation, mobile tel. +358 40 580 8738, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland; and Special Adviser Anna Manner-Raappana, tel. +358 9 1607 4157, and Senior Officer Maria Waltari, tel. +358 1607 4193, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health