"We do not promote a specific lifestyle. On the contrary, we want to enable everyone to make informed and qualitative decisions on their own lifestyles. We are obliged to provide them with information and enable them a choice. We want people to have a choice, but no one is forced into doing anything," Prime Minister Golob particularly highlighted after the first session of the Council.

As stated by the Chair of the Council, Dr Nataša Fidler Mis, this is an excellent opportunity for the experts to contribute to political decisions in the field of food, where we are facing great challenges, "We want food to be more sustainable and healthier. Our plans are to contribute specifically to a better diet for all age groups."

Dr Ivan Eržen, the Scientific Director of the National Institute of Public Health, also assessed that the establishment of the Council was an important step forward. He believed that with the data available and in cooperation with the stakeholders from various line ministries, the Council was making a change that would actually enable citizens to make informed choices. Dr Eržen was appointed Deputy Chair of the Council.

This is a project that will continue throughout the entire Government’s term and will initially address two topical issues. The first is the renovation of the meal voucher system for students so that the state supports a healthier diet of students by means of public funds, and the second one is to enable citizens to make comparisons between different lifestyles within the project of monitoring the price of a basic food basket.

The Strategic Council for Food consists of the following members:

-     Dr Nataša Fidler Mis from the Clinical Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at the Division of Paediatrics of Ljubljana University Medical Centre and a lecturer at the Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana,

-     Veronika Cukrov from Cukrov Law Firm that primarily deals with the issues of energy law which is closely linked to the environmental aspects of food,

-     Dr Boštjan Jakše from Barbara Jakše s.p. Dr Jakše obtained his PhD in the field of food from the Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana,

-     Dr Tanja Kamin is a professor and head of the research Centre for Social Psychology of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Ljubljana,

-     Dr Samo Kreft from the Department of Pharmaceutical Biology at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Ljubljana,

-     Nika Tavčar from Umanotera, the Slovenian Foundation for Sustainable Development,

-     Dr Andreja Vezovnik from the Department of Media Studies of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Ljubljana,

-     Dr Ivan Eržen, physician/specialist in epidemiology, Scientific Director of the National Institute of Public Health,

-     Dr Jakob Leskovec, researcher at the Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana,

-     Dr Aleš Kuhar, agricultural economist, lecturer at the Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana,

-     Dr Zlatko Fras, physician/specialist in cardiology at Ljubljana University Medical Centre,

-     Mojca Dolinar, climatologist, Director of Meteorology, Hydrology and Oceanography Office at the Slovenian Environment Agency,

-     Lilijana Mahne, local self-sufficiency promoter from the Mahne Farm,

-     Dan Juvan, State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities,

-     Dr Darjo Felda, State Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport,

-     Tatjana Buzeti, State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food,

-     Uroš Vajgl, State Secretary at the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning,

-     Azra Herceg, State Secretary at the Ministry of Health, and

-     Dr Aida Kamišalić Latifić, State Secretary at the Government Office for Digital Transformation.