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The international life sciences institute (ILSI)
ILSI South Africa, Tel. and Fax (021) 872 8423, e-mail amackenz@iafrica.com S4

S A J Clin Nutr 2000 February Vol 13 No 1

Supplement
The International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) is a non-profit, worldwide foundation established in 1978 to advance the understanding of scientific issues relating to nutrition, food safety, toxicology, and the environment. By bringing together scientists from academia, government, industry and the public sector, ILSI seeks a balanced approach to solving problems with broad implications for the well-being of the general public.

All of ILSI’s activities are predicated on sound, high-quality science. It is the calibre of the science that ILSI supports, along with ILSI’s distinctive ability to involve leading scientists from all sectors, that can lead to the resolution of critical health and safety issues, and that accounts for the high regard with which ILSI’s scientific contributions are viewed. In pursuit of its goal of improving health and safety worldwide, ILSI has developed a reputation for providing a highly respected forum that often builds consensus among disparate groups.

Although the headquarters are in Washington, DC, ILSI carries out its mission internationally through its branches. ILSI branches currently include Argentina, Australasia, Brasil, Europe, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, North Africa and the Gulf Region, North America, South Africa, South Andes, Southeast Asia, Thailand, a Focal Point in China, and the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute, which focuses on global environmental issues. ILSI is affiliated with the World Health Organisation as a non-governmental organisation (NGO) and has specialised consultative status with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the USA.

Because science is the base of ILSI’s achievements, the ILSI Research Foundation was formed in 1984 to create a vehicle for ILSI to support basic scientific research in underfunded and unexplored areas. The Research Foundation helps ensure the scientific credibility of all ILSI-sponsored programmes through research awards, seminars, publications and other vital activities. By supporting scientific work related to ILSI’s interests, the Research Foundation enhances ILSI’s global reputation for scientific quality and impartiality. The ILSI Research Foundation comprises the Allergy and Immunology Institute, Human Nutrition Institute, and Risk Sciences Institute. The ILSI Centre for Health Promotion comprises the Physical Activity and Nutrition Programme and the Micronutrient Deficiency Programme/Project IDEA(Iron Deficiency Elimination Action).

ILSI’s effectiveness lies in activities that promote consensus-based scientific decision-making:

• meetings, frequently in collaboration with other professional organisations, to evaluate scientific information, thereby promoting consensus on issues of common concern
• support of research to explore and develop new scientific knowledge
• publication of many ILSI conference proceedings, as well as its flagship publications, namely Nutrition Reviews and Present Knowledge in Nutrition. Concise monographs render technical and scientific information in an abridged form understandable to a wide range of non-specialist professionals.

ILSI South Africa, formed as a study group in 1997 and established as a full branch in January 1998, has a membership of both local and multi-national companies involved in the production, distribution, and sale of foods and other related consumer products. A number of leading academic, governmental, industrial, and other scientists serve as trustees of ILSI South Africa. The mission of ILSI South Africa is: "To contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of a South Africans through improved public health and safety’.

In addition to this workshop, activities have included symposia on ‘Nutrition and Disease’, and the ‘Nutrition Transition’. As part of its commitment to education of the scientific community, ILSI South Africa has provided financial support to a number of students enabling them to attend Food Science (South African Association of Food Science and Technology) and Environmental (World Clean Air) Congresses. ILSI also provides scientific input to the Food Legislation Advisory Group (FLAG) formed by the Directorate: Food Control of the Department of Health to advise it on proposed food legislation. Future plans include a symposium on the reuse of water in the food and beverage industries.