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

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.

Public health interventions tackling childhood obesity at European level: A literature review

“…It is a common secret that countries are developing approaches to “fuel” healthy diets that are adapted to local and cultural contexts and that ultimately involve multi-sector and multi-stakeholder priority setting and decision-making ( Kickbusch et al, 2016 ). ( World Health Organization, 2013 , World Health Organization, 2018a , Van Dam et al, 2022 , Pereira and Oliveira, 2021 ).…”

Government policies to improve food environments: A population and equity lens

“…Another example is evidence showing that the implementation of an SSBs tax in the United Kingdom led to product reformulation (i.e., reduction of sugar in soft drinks) and a reduction in consumer purchases of soft drinks (106). To monitor and evaluate the commitments made by the food and beverage industry, the Business Impact Assessment on Obesity and Population Nutrition (BIA-Obesity) developed by INFORMAS could also be used (107). It is also important for future studies to investigate the effects of the implementation of food environment policies on longer-term population health outcomes (i.e., overweight and obesity), for instance by conducting natural experiments (108).…”