Le Programme National Nutrition Santé (PNNS) : un vrai programme de santé publique

In 2001 France started a new age in running its public health nutritional policy by the implementation of the national nutrition-health programme (PNNS = Programme National Nutrition Santé). Ever since two 5-year phases of the programme have passed (PNNS1: 2001-2005 and PNNS2: 2006-2010) and a new phase (PNNS 2011-2015) is under preparation. The programme has defined 9 essential nutritional objectives and 10 specific ones so far. From a practical point of view and in order to achieve the announced objectives, the PNNS has developed, over its previous two phases, a set of actions, measures, regulations and even legislations. Its strategy targets different axes: communication, information-advertisement, education, and improvement of physical and alimentary behaviours and of food supply, within a general frame integrating research, training, surveillance and evaluation. All of the PNNS actions and measures are initially based on major principles: the respect of life pleasures, conviviality and gastronomy; a positive approach that is mainly oriented towards the promotion of protecting factors and avoiding at the same time the absolute interdiction ; the development of lifestyle-adapted messages ; assuring good synergy, mutualism and coherence between the announced messages and the entire set of actions.