A group of government officials and health experts urged to do more to eliminate hunger and solve malnutrition problems during a "zero hunger" parallel session of the 9th Global Conference on Health Promotion in Shanghai on Nov 22.

The session focused primarily on the issue of how progress can be made on accelerating towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) by strengthening good governance for health through action across government sectors. An agreement was reached to make detailed and practical plans, enhance cooperation between different sectors and share resources around the world to achieve "zero hunger."

Syed Hassan Hashemi, Minister of Health and Medical Education of Iran brought forward the close relationship between food issues and sustainable development. Iran has passed a series of food and nutrition safety policies, improved collaboration across departments, reinforced management of nutrition risk factors, made new law on food labeling , limited sugar and fat in food, forbidden unhealthy food for schools and other special units, and reduced the circulation of unhealthy food.

Pirkko Mattila, Minister of Social Affairs and Health of Finland, listed the actions they have taken in tackling malnutrition and their cooperation with agricultural and food industrial sectors.

The Brazilian government has incorporated nutrition and healthy diet into its national development strategy and has since taken many effective measures. Antonio Figueiredo Nardi, Executive Secretary of Ministry of Health talked about two main efforts the government is dedicated to impose. On the one hand, they have made national food and nutrition policy, engaging social, economic, political and cultural sectors, while on the other, they have established a zero hunger program.