Nutritional and dietary aspects are central to the work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission on foods special dietary uses and on nutrition labelling, and are playing a major part in the development of standards such as those for cereals and vegetable proteins. In the general work of the Commission and its subsidiary bodies many draft and existing standards either contain specific nutritional provisions or individually or collectively help to protect the nutritional quality of the food supply by controlling the composition and description of foods passing in trade. Work now in courses and planning by the Commission will increase the commitment to nutrition in the Codex programme.