Assessment of the Commitments and Performance of the European Food Industry to Improve Population Nutrition

Évaluation des engagements et des performances de l'industrie alimentaire européenne pour améliorer la nutrition de la population

Iris van Dam, Emilie Guillon, Ella Robinson, Olivier Allais (), Gary Sacks and Stefanie Vandevijvere
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Iris van Dam: Sciensano [Bruxelles] - Pasteur Network (Réseau International des Instituts Pasteur), ALISS - Alimentation et sciences sociales - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement
Emilie Guillon: UniLaSalle
Ella Robinson: GLOBE - Global Obesity Centre - Institute for Health Transformation - School of Health and Social Development - Deakin University [Burwood]
Olivier Allais: INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement
Gary Sacks: GLOBE - Global Obesity Centre - Institute for Health Transformation - School of Health and Social Development - Deakin University [Burwood]
Stefanie Vandevijvere: Sciensano [Bruxelles] - Pasteur Network (Réseau International des Instituts Pasteur)

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Abstract: Objectives: Food companies could play an important role in improving population diets, but often escape accountability through unspecific commitments. This study evaluated nutrition-related commitments and estimated performance of the largest packaged food and non-alcoholic beverage manufacturers, supermarkets and quick-service restaurants (QSR) in Europe. Methods: To quantitatively assess companies' publicly available commitments in 2020, the "Business Impact Assessment on Obesity and Population Nutrition" was applied. The proportion of sales from ultra-processed and "unhealthy" food categories (product categories not-permitted to be marketed to children) and over time changes in the number of QSR transactions and QSR and supermarket outlets were calculated. Results: Company commitments fell short of best practice recommendations (median overall score of 21%, range: 1%–62%). Food and beverage companies generated 82% (15%–100%) and 58% (1%–100%) sales from ultra-processed and "unhealthy" products, respectively. The number of QSR outlets and transactions substantially increased in Europe since 2011, while QSR commitments to improve population nutrition remained limited. Conclusion: Whilst most companies made some nutrition-related commitments, they did not comply with best practice recommendations. A large proportion of sales was generated from ultra-processed/unhealthy products and QSR outlets increased. Government regulations are urgently needed.

Keywords: Europe; Food environments; Food industry; Food supply; Nutrient profile; Business impact assessment; Accountability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022-06-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-03761087v1
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Published in International Journal of Public Health, 2022, 67, ⟨10.3389/ijph.2022.1604116⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03761087

DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2022.1604116

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