2026 Presentations
— Presentations available to view - of those shared and with permission received from the presenter •
• Presentations will be available to view until Monday, 30 November 2026 —
— OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:
Unlocking the power of novel data and data science in nutrition research and policy
Prof Michelle Morris - Professor of Data Science for Food, University of Leeds (United Kingdom)
• CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
From Assessment to Outcomes: NCPT Advancing Nutrition and Creating Impact
Dr Angela Vivanti - Former Research and Development Dietitian, Princess Alexandra Hospital (Australia)
• CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
— CONGRESS DAY 1 | Wednesday, 7 October 2026
SESSION 1 •
— Food and Nutrition in a Changing Society
Regulation and monitoring of the sale of foods and beverages at school tuckshops: A pilot study
Prof Ashika Naicker, Durban University of Technology (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
More than market noise? Price dynamics of R.214-regulated foods in South Africa
Ms Odette Roux, Centre of Excellence for Nutrition - North-West University (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Exploring the voluntary commitments and practices of Danone in supporting healthier food environments and improving population nutrition in South Africa
Ms Leanne Kiezer, Danone Southern Africa (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Ultra-processed research: Mapping the corporate political activity strategies of the food industry in South Africa
Dr Tamryn Frank, University of the Western Cape (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
— Nutrition Research for Impact and Innovation
Gastrointestinal integrity is associated with systemic inflammation and gut symptoms in South African female university-level team-sport players
Ms Marlize Botha, North-West University (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
The inflammatory and antioxidant potential of habitual diets of female athletes from a university in South Africa
Ms Georgia Van Der Walt, North-West University (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Association of body composition and fat distribution with iron status in young South African women
Ms Busisiwe Mkhabela, North-West University (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Adherence to the South African food-based dietary guidelines among young adults aged 20-30 years: The African-PREDICT study
Ms Zeldah Luvha, North-West University (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
— Nutrition in Disease Prevention and Management
Burden of obesity and cardiometabolic risk among health professionals in South African public healthcare facilities
Ms Faith Masala, National Department of Health (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Knowledge and reported treatment of patients with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) in South Africa
Ms Ermi Spies, University of the Free State (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Providing nutrition care for those with cerebral palsy: Experiences of healthcare workers in the South African Public Health System
Prof Louise van den Berg, University of Pretoria (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Does diet quality drive metabolic response? Changes in Mediterranean diet adherence and metabolic syndrome severity during a lifestyle intervention
Ms Leonie Burgard, University Hospital Erlangen (Germany) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
SESSION 2 •
— Food and Nutrition in a Changing Society
Civil society perspectives on commercial determinants of stunting: A case study of the ‘Not Today Nestlé’ campaign
Ms Angelika Grimbeek, HEALA (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Harnessing the value of an NPO-led school program to foster healthy eating behaviours in children
Ms Cari Erasmus, Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Caregiver use of added sugar in home-prepared and commercial infant cereals in a district of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Ms Tumelo Molefe, University of South Africa (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Equity on the plate: Factors influencing vegetable provision and menu dietary diversity in South African early childhood development centres
Ms Sanchia Prinsloo, Stellenbosch University (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
— Nutrition Research for Impact and Innovation
The effects of immune-modulatory nutrients in pulmonary tuberculosis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Dr Simoné King, North-West University (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Balanced energy-protein supplementation fortified with multiple micronutrients and maternal nutritional outcomes in pregnancy: A community-based study in South Africa
Dr Marita Serfontein, University of South Africa (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Effects of adjunct omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in pulmonary tuberculosis patients: A study protocol
Ms Zoleka Zuma, North-West University (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
— Nutrition in Disease Prevention and Management
Barriers to the early identification of refeeding syndrome in hospitalised children with severe acute malnutrition: Perspectives of healthcare practitioners
Ms Tshegofatso Mogase, Sefako Makgatho Health Science University (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
The unbroken chain: Nutritional adequacy, cumulative micronutrient deficits, and foodservice Governance in Eastern Cape Psychiatric Hospitals, South Africa
Ms Asanda Getyeza-Ntswam, University of Western Cape (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Adherence to renal dietary guidelines among chronic kidney disease patients on hemodialysis at a tertiary hospital, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Ms Glenrose Manale, University of Limpopo (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
The prevalence of malnutrition in infants and children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the Dora Nginza Hospital outpatient clinic
Ms Siyanda Ngcelwana, Nelson Mandela University (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
SESSION 3 •
— Food and Nutrition in a Changing Society
Assessment of the nutritional composition of home-prepared complementary foods in selected rural and urban communities of KwaZulu-Natal
Ms Hlengiwe Sokhela, University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
South African adolescents’ perceptions of healthy and unhealthy foods and determinants of their food choices within the school food environment
Ms Alice Khan, University of the Western Cape (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Exploring the association between the digital food environment and consumers' relationship with food in young adult South Africans
Ms Thando Mlambo, University of South Africa (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
— Nutrition Research for Impact and Innovation
Gaps in workplace breastfeeding support research in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review (2016–2025)
Dr Catherine Pereira-Kotze, South African Medical Research Council (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Nutritional status and household food security of pregnant women: Insights from the NuEMI study
Prof Corinna Walsh, University of the Free State (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Accuracy estimation of digital photographs for length measurements in infants and young children
Ms Barbara Luyt, Stellenbosch University (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Anthropometric status and feeding practices of HIV exposed and unexposed preterm infants admitted to the largest regional hospital in Botswana
Ms Tshepo Makete, Botswana Defence Force (Botswana) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
— Leadership and Ethical Practice in Nutrition
Leading with integrity: Governance reform and ethical leadership in the Association for Dietetics in South Africa
Ms Maria Van Der Merwe, ADSA (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Care2Care: Building mental wellness capacity among dietitians and other healthcare professionals in South Africa
Ms Maria Van Der Merwe, ADSA (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Two years of ADSA Learn: Reach, engagement, and emerging trends in digital professional learning in nutrition and allied health
Ms Debby Gates, University of Cape Town (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Mapping the factors influencing food-drug interaction consultation: Implications for professional boundaries and scope of practice in nutrition care
Ms Natascha Olivier, Stellenbosch University (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
SESSION 4 •
— Food and Nutrition in a Changing Society
Scenario-based costing analysis of exclusive breastfeeding for South African mothers: A Protocol
Ms Leonore Kotze, North-West University (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Development and testing of a protocol on preterm infant management at District Level Hospitals in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Ms Stacey-Leigh Pullen, Nelson Mandela University (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Early infant feeding practices, intestinal permeability and risk of stunting at two years in a South African birth cohort
Dr Tjale Cloupas Mahopo, University of Venda (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
— Sustainable Nutrition
Qhamuka for the first 1000 days: Community health worker leadership and innovation in addressing child stunting in South Africa
Ms Sheena Chauke, Grow Great (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Leveraging indigenous and traditional crops for complementary food fortification: Insights from healthcare workers in Rural Manguzi, KwaZulu-Natal
Ms Thandeka Mlungwana, University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Promoting sustainable dietary practices through the implementation of the South African Food Boost University Challenge (SAFBUC)
Ms Sanrika Sahadeo, Durban University of Technology (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
— Leadership and Ethical Practice in Nutrition
Trends in migration patterns of South African dietetics and human nutrition graduates: A retrospective study (2001–2024)
Dr Bongekile Mabaso, University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Bridging the language gap in nutrition care: Development of bilingual isiZulu–English resources for dietetics and human nutrition education
Dr Bongekile Mabaso, University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
The drivers and strategies of workforce upskilling in dietetics and nutrition sciences
Ms Ronel Beukes, Stellenbosch University (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
SESSION 5 •
— Nutrition in Disease Prevention and Management
Obesity, food addiction, disordered eating, and mental health: Prevalence and associations among university students in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Dr Blessing Mkhwanazi, University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Benchmarking nutrition policies in South Africa: Lessons from the CO-CREATE project
Prof Janetta Harbron, University of Cape Town (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
A youth-led participatory action research approach to generate policy ideas for obesity prevention
Prof Janetta Harbron, University of Cape Town (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
— Nutrition Research for Impact and Innovation
Early pregnancy BMI and MUAC as predictors of placental insufficiency in South African women
Ms Suanné Nolte, University of Pretoria (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Effect of a multi‑grain legume-based cereal on growth in young children: Preliminary Findings from the StartWell and Grow Study
Prof Tertia van Zyl, North-West University (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
— CONGRESS DAY 2 | Thursday, 8 October 2026
SESSION 7 •
— Nutrition in Disease Prevention and Management
Comparison between two pregnancy-related dietary scores among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Atteridgeville, Tshwane
Ms Rodrey Mafodi, University of Pretoria (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Association between maternal iron status and diet quality measures among pregnant women in Tshwane, South Africa
Ms Chido Zambuko, University of Pretoria (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
The revised 2026 Integrated Prevention and Management of Malnutrition (IPMM) guideline
Ms Zandile Kubeka, National Department of Health (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Meeting the benchmark? South Africa’s R.214 sodium regulation compared with WHO global targets
Ms Odette Roux, Centre of excellence for Nutrition - North-West University (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
— Nutrition Research for Impact and Innovation
A delphi-based validation of consumer food labelling lessons for South African consumers
Ms Shakun Naicker, Durban University of Technology (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
The Nutrition Knowledge-Behaviour Gap: Fast-food consumption among adults in Johannesburg
Ms Nokukhanya Ncamane, University of Johannesburg (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
— Food and Nutrition Technologies
Monitoring digital food retail: A pilot application of the INFORMAS online grocery protocol in South Africa
Dr Bianca Van Der Westhuizen, University of South Africa (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
From the science of nutrient profiling to digital innovation: The development of NutriRank in South Africa
Dr Mariaan Wicks, North-West University (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Updating recipe calculations: Advancing the South African food composition database through improved ingredient data
Ms Joelaine Chetty SAMRC Biostatistics/SAFOODS (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Developing DI-FoodLink: An API to link DIASA, a Dietary Intake Assessment Application to FoodFinder, a Dietary Intake Analysis Program
Dr Averalda van Graan, SAMRC (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
SESSION 8 •
— Food and Nutrition Technologies
Likes, follows and food choices: Social media healthy-eating content and diet quality in South African adults
Dr Bianca Van Der Westhuizen, University of South Africa (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Dairy snacks or yoghurt alternatives? Nutritional insights into dairy snacks marketed to children in South Africa
Dr Beulah Pretorius, University of Pretoria (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
mHealth for community-based growth monitoring and promotion: Three case studies from South African settings
Ms Helen Donkin, Independent (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
— Nutrition in Disease Prevention and Management
Fenton 2013 and 2025 growth charts in South Africa: Real-world differences and their practical implications
Dr Sanja Nel, University of Pretoria (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Food intake and anthropometric nutritional status of children with autism spectrum disorders in Durban, South Africa
Dr Jane Muchiri, University of Pretoria (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Reliability and comparative validity of the IRONIC-FFQ adapted for the South African context among nutrition students
Ms Janetta Botha, University of Pretoria (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
SESSION 9 •
— Nutrition in Disease Prevention and Management
Infant anaemia and haemoglobin levels in high HIV-prevalent settings: Findings from the Siyakhula study, South Africa
Dr Phumudzo Tshiambara, University of Pretoria (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Implementation of the Food Insulin Index in determining insulin demand in diabetes: Best practice guidelines
Dr Hildegard Strydom, Private (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Nutritional profile of patients with severe dysphagia with feeding tubes at a tertiary hospital in central South Africa
Ms Angelique Carson-Porter, University of the Free State (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
— Nutrition Research for Impact and Innovation
Omega-3 LCPUFA supplementation did not reduce inflammation to improve iron absorption in South African women living with overweight or obesity
Dr Mary Uyoga, North-West University (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Three decades of the South African National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP): A scoping review of evidence
Ms Mafanato Maluleka, University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
— Food and Nutrition Technologies
Impact of maturity and drying on total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of ‘Keitt’ mango over two harvest seasons
Ms Taylor Carnie, Stellenbosch University (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Development and nutritional evaluation of value-added noodles incorporating black wheat (Triticum aestivum L)
Dr Imana Pal, Upes (India) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
— Food and Nutrition in a Changing Society
Online grocery shopping and nutrition labelling in South Africa: An analysis of digital platforms
Dr Nelene Koen, Stellenbosch University (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
— CONGRESS DAY 3 | Friday, 9 October 2026
What must I teach my patient about food labels?
Ms Gaby Jackson, Food & Allergy Consulting & Testing Services (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Introduction of the new dietetics and nutrition board of the HPCSA
Prof Evette van Niekerk, Chairperson of the Professional Board & Colleagues, Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
Our nutrition, our rights – Nutrition advocacy for food justice
Ms Angelika Grimbeek, Healthy Living Alliance (South Africa) CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRESENTATION
