Prof. Ricardo Uauy is a renowned Chilean professor of nutrition and pediatrics at INTA (Institute of Nutrition University of Chile) and at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He has served as President of the Chilean Nutrition Society is past President of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences IUNS. He has participated as an expert in various WHO/FAO Expert Consultations notable chaired the WHO/FAO consultation on Diet Nutrition and Physical Activity Prevention of Chronic Diseases (TRS 916). Prof. Uauy has served on the board and task forces of various health and nutrition organizations and has contributed over 250 scientific publications on various aspects of human nutritional needs in health and disease with and has co-edited five books. Present research interests include: obesity and other nutrition related NCDs, international health and nutrition.

Prof. Marcelo Tavella is currently working as full-time Associate Professor at the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department of the National University of La Plata. He is the general director of Propia (Program for the prevention of infarct in Argentina) and Secretary of the FUNPRECAL (Foundation for the prevention and control of chronic non-communicable diseases in Latin America.). Additional functions include: member of the WHO/FAO Expert consultation, member of the PAHO expert group, and researcher of CONICET (National Scientific and Technical Research Council of Argentina). Furthermore, he is a founding member of the Advisory Committee of the National Ministry of Health on trans fatty acids and salt. His areas of research are related to the field of chronic diseases of lifestyle, particularly hyperlipoproteinemias.

Dr. Simon Barquera is president of the nutrition board of professors at the Mexican School of Public Health and Director of the Nutritional Epidemiology Division at the Nutrition and Health Research Center (National Institute of Public Health). As a consultant for WHO, PAHO, IFPRI, UNICEF and the IAAE he has advised on nutrition, obesity and chronic diseases. He is member of the advisory board in chronic diseases and diet for the Ministry of Health, Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the International Obesity Task Force and Council Member of the Obesity Society. Furthermore, he has been recognised as National Investigator by the Mexican National Council of Science and Technology and member of the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Medicine in Mexico. He is co-author of several books and scientific papers.

Dr. Salvador Villalpando graduated from the University of Mexico as M.D. and Ph.D., after which he became resident in Endocrinology and Nutrition in the National Medical Center of Mexico City and the University of Pittsburgh. He is director of the Division of Research on Public Nutrition Policies and Programs, at Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica. He was Co-PI for the National Nutrition Surveys of 1999 and 2006, and participated in the evaluation of public nutrition programs such as OPORTUNIDADES. He is member of the Mexican Academy of Sciences and of Medicine as well as a consultant for WHO and PAHO. Furthermore, he is a nutrition advisor for the Health Ministry of Mexico. His main research interest is public nutrition policies.

Silvia Cozzolino is full Professor at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Sao Paulo, she obtained her doctorate degree in Food Science. In the past she coordinated the Applied Human Nutrition Post graduation Programme for 12 years and represented the University of Sao Paulo in the Food and Nutrition Security Commission (CONSEA-SP). She has been president of the Brazilian Society for Food and Nutrition (SBAN) for 6 years, currently she is Vice-President. She has edited and co-authored 3 books. With a large experience in the area of nutrition, especially in micronutrients, topics of her research include: zinc, selenium bioavailability and evaluation of the nutrition state. Currently she conducts research relating selenium and nutrigenomics.

Dr. Elizabete Wenzel de Menezes works at the Department of Food and Experimental Nutrition at the University of São Paulo. Over the past years she has been expert member of several committees, such as the Brazilian Table of Food Composition, the Brazilian Network of Food Data System and the Latin American Network of Food Data System. She has over 30 papers published in renowned national and international journals and has co-authored several books. Her research interests include analysis of carbohydrates and prebiotics.