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The first issue of World Nutrition for 2026 marks a significant milestone in the ongoing development of public health nutrition.As the global community faces increasingly complex and interconnected nutritional challenges, this issue brings together a diverse range of scholarship that reflects both the breadth of current evidence and the urgency for integrated, systems-based solutions.Across continents and contexts, the contributions in this volume emphasise a central theme: that malnutrition in all its forms is not an isolated issue but a multifaceted phenomenon influenced by biological, social, environmental, and structural factors.Leading this discussion, Greiner's "Maternal nutrition at a crossroads in India" offers a compelling editorial perspective on the global nutrition transition through the lens of maternal health.The coexistence of undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and increasing overweight among women of reproductive age exemplifies a broader epidemiological shift.The call for a "triple-duty" and life-course approach strongly aligns with the wider literature on this topic, emphasising that interventions must extend beyond pregnancy to include preconception and broader socio-environmental factors. Imongben et al. critically examine environmental factors affecting nutritionand food safety in their study, "Determination of some heavy metals and their potential risk in selected vegetables on sale within Kaduna Metropolis, Kaduna State, Nigeria."Their findings highlight the challenge of achieving both nutritional adequacy and food safety, revealing significant non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks linked to contaminated, commonly consumed vegetables.This emphasises the importance of integrating environmental health governance into nutrition policy frameworks.Food systems transformation and agricultural diversification are essential strategies for addressing food insecurity.In "Prospects for fighting food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa using underutilised crops: the case for fluted pumpkin", Ikwuazom and Ejike advocate for reintroducing indigenous crops into mainstream food systems.Their analysis highlights underutilised species as not only nutritionally valuable options but also as climate-resilient assets vital for sustainable food security in sub-Saharan Africa.Institutional and community-level determinants of nutrition are examined further in several empirical studies.Smit et al., in "Food-handling practices, nutrition and food safety knowledge, and attitudes of staff at early childhood development centres in the City of Cape Town, South Africa," highlight significant gaps between policy and practice in early childhood settings, emphasising the importance of ongoing capacity building and monitoring.