Policies to Create Healthier Food Environments in Canada: Experts’ Evaluation and Prioritized Actions Using the Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI)

Lana Vanderlee, Sahar Goorang, Kimiya Karbasy, Stefanie Vandevijvere and Mary R L’Abbé
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Lana Vanderlee: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
Sahar Goorang: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
Kimiya Karbasy: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
Stefanie Vandevijvere: School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
Mary R L’Abbé: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 22, 1-17

Abstract: Food environment policies play a critical role in shaping food choices, diets, and health outcomes. This study endeavored to characterize and evaluate the current food environment policies in Canada using the Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI) to compare policies in place or under development in Canada as of 1 January 2017 to the most promising practices internationally. Evidence of policy implementation from the federal, provincial, and territorial governments was collated and verified by government stakeholders for 47 good practice indicators across 13 policy and infrastructure support domains. Canadian policies were rated by 71 experts from across Canada, and an aggregate score of national and subnational policies was created. Potential policy actions were identified and prioritized. Canadian governments scored ‘high’ compared to best practices for 3 indicators, ‘moderate’ for 14 indicators, ‘low’ for 25 indicators, and ‘very little or none’ for 4 indicators. Six policy and eight infrastructure support actions were prioritized as the most important and achievable. The Food-EPI identified some progress and considerable gaps in policy implementation in Canada, and highlights a particular need for greater attention to prioritized policies that can help to shift to a health-promoting food environment.

Keywords: food environment; food policy; health policy; nutrition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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