Hotpot nutrition project ends with food for thought
Published 21 March 2013
Poverty and Nutrition formed the theme of the recent Hotpot project conference, with talks on government policies, microwave cooking and healthy eating on a restricted income comprising part of the two-day event.
The Hotpot project, funded by the cross-channel Interreg IVA programme and the European Regional Development Fund, was set up to support and develop the food service industry and institutional catering in France and England through initiatives that included seminars, public events, and internet and mobile phone applications. It has looked at ways to encourage a more healthy diet in vulnerable groups, in particular through the use of using microwave technologies. To help further the aims of Hotpot, one of the most recent proposals has been the development of a management degree at masters level in both countries.
The conference marked the end of the project and was held at the LaSalle Beauvais Institut Polytechnique in Picardie, northern France, on day one and at the Old Ship Hotel in Brighton on the second day.
The conference focused on issues relating to accessibility to an affordable healthy diet, food pricing and food wastage. Those taking part from both countries included academics, members of the food industry and representatives of several food interest groups.
Sessions highlighted the complexity of the problem of poor nutrition due to poverty and the need for co-ordinated efforts by government at all levels to overcome this. This topic also was the subject of a presentation by Professor Martin Caraher from City University London, who talked about the density of fast food outlets in deprived areas, the growth of food banks in towns and cities, and the failed attempts of politicians to tackle the growing problem of obesity in the population groups targeted by Hotpot.
As part of the public engagement element of Hotpot, three websites have been developed, one of which has been produced by the Hospitality Research Group at the University of Brighton, led by Dr Ioannis Pantelidis. The website called Menu Museum is designed to build an archive of menus for use by professionals, academics and the general public. It allows visitors to research a variety of menus in both historical and functional contexts, and is particularly useful for those wanting to know more about menu design, pricing and menu trends.
Overall, at the end of the conference, delegates agreed that Hotpot had met with some success and it is intended that a group from University of Brighton and LaSalle Beauvais will meet in the spring to look at the potential for developing a Hotpot 2.
