Improving nutrition surveillance and public health research in Central and Eastern Europe/Balkan Countries using the Balkan Food Platform and dietary tools

• Lack of harmonized/standardized food composition data and dietary assessment tools.
• Identified training needs in dietary assessment tools development and application.
• Regional FCDB harmonized by EuroFIR – cornerstone of the Balkan Food Platform.
• Expose of design and implementation of FCDB and nutritional software tools.
• CEE/B Capacity Development in nutrition tools application – workshops & trainings.
• Synchronizing the regional FCDB and nutritional tools for nutritional surveillance.

The objective of this paper is to share experience and provide updated information on Capacity Development in the Central and Eastern Europe/Balkan Countries (CEE/BC) region relevant to public health nutrition, particularly in creation of food composition databases (FCDBs), applying dietary intake assessment and monitoring tools, and harmonizing methodology for nutrition surveillance. Balkan Food Platform was established by a Memorandum of Understanding among EuroFIR AISBL, Institute for Medical Research, Belgrade, Capacity Development Network in Nutrition in CEE – CAPNUTRA and institutions from nine countries in the region. Inventory on FCDB status identified lack of harmonized and standardized research tools. To strengthen harmonization in CEE/BC in line with European research trends, the Network members collaborated in development of a Regional FCDB, using web-based food composition data base management software following EuroFIR standards. Comprehensive nutrition assessment and planning tool – DIET ASSESS & PLAN could enable synchronization of nutrition surveillance across countries.