Introduction to the Food Standards Agency's (FSA) food Choice research programmes and to the report of the FSA seminar on peer-led approaches to dietary change held in July 2006

To describe the Food Standards Agency's (FSA) Food Acceptability & Choice and Food Choice Inequalities research programmes and the context for the FSA seminar on peer-led approaches to dietary change held in July 2006. The aims of the FSA's food choice research programmes are to identify the social, psychological and physical barriers to achieving a healthier diet and how they might be addressed. Results of the research provide the scientific basis for some FSA advice on healthy eating. An important element of both programmes is the output of practical tools and resources that can be used by health professionals, nutritionists, teachers and others to encourage people to eat a healthy diet. The FSA held a seminar in July 2006 in order to identify the specific and general learning points from three peer-led intervention studies and to discuss how these could best be communicated to various audiences, including practitioners, researchers and policy-makers. The seminar provided a useful forum for discussion. The FSA will ensure that lessons learned from these peer-led intervention studies are taken account of in the planning, appraisal and management of future research projects, in the communication of project results and in the dissemination of resources.