The work of the NNSC involves:
i) The continual updating of information on food production, supply, retail, consumption, health and socio-cultural impact.
ii) Response to information requests on nutrition-related topics from the media, health services, statutory and voluntary bodies.
iii) Information dissemination – periodic reports are published.
These reports have been widely disseminated among Health Board personnel, food agencies, producers, retailers, caterers, academics, teachers and the media.
iv) Instigation of Food and Nutrition studies.
v) Advisory Role to the Department of Health and Children in relation to their health education and promotion campaigns.
The NNSC Food and/or nutrition surveillance is based on the use of routinely collected or easily generated data from several sectors related to nutrition and health. These include:
- Food supply/production/retail
- Food consumption data
- Nutritional knowledge, attitudes and beliefs
- Information on effective nutrition programmes
- Socio-economic indicators related to health
- Nutrition related health status indicators
- Food economics