Examining local-level factors shaping school nutrition policy implementation in Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Objective: Increasing numbers of overweight and obese youth draw attention to the school as an important setting for targeted nutrition interventions, given that it is where they spend a majority of their waking time. The objective of the present study was to explore local-level factors shaping the implementation of a school nutrition policy. Design: In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted in person or via the telephone (a maximum of 60 min). An interview guide was informed by the Analysis Grid for Environments Linked to Obesity (ANGELO) framework, research objectives and literature. Key themes centred on policy implementation, including facilitators and barriers (i.e. resources, capacity), user satisfaction (i.e. students) and communication strategies. Setting: Secondary schools in Ontario, Canada. Subjects: Twenty-two participants from local agencies supporting school nutrition programming (n 8) and secondary-school principals, vice principals and teachers (n 14) from nine schools across three Ontario school boards. Results: Results are organized according to environments outlined in the ANGELO framework. The cost of healthy food for sale, revenue loss (economic), proximity of schools to off-site food outlets (physical), the restrictive nature of policy, the role of key stakeholders (political), the role of stigma and school culture (sociocultural) act as local-level barriers to policy implementation. Conclusions: Gaps in policy implementation include the high cost of food for sale and subsequent revenue generation, the close proximity of internal and external food environments, the need for consultation and communication between stakeholders, and strategies to reduce stigma and improve the school nutrition culture.

Support for healthy eating at schools according to the comprehensive school health framework: evaluation during the early years of the Ontario School Food and Beverage Policy implementation

“…10 Preliminary studies indicate that some school stakeholders have encountered difficulties implementing P/PM 150, thereby limiting the ability of schools to reach full policy compliance. [11][12][13] These findings are consistent with reports that nutrition policy adherence typically takes years. 14,15 Policies can falter when the local context is unsupportive of the change (e.g.…”

Beverages and snacks available in vending machines from a subset of Ontario secondary schools: Do offerings align with provincial nutrition standards?

“…The removal of such products demonstrates that schools have made progress, though research has indicated that it can take months to years to improve the nutritional quality of products offered for sale in vending machines. 9,16,22,23 The ability to make and sustain changes also requires ongoing support, a weakness identified in all evaluations of P/PM 150. 18,19 The Ontario Ministry of Education-mandated P/PM 150 entrusted dissemination to regional school boards and left implementation to schools.…”

“…16,17 Studies to date, though valuable, have not clearly identified the types of beverages or snacks that are non-compliant, nor conducted an audit of school vending machines in Ontario secondary schools. Furthermore, compliance, which typically takes years to achieve successfully, has not been tracked over time.…”

“Highly processed, highly packaged, very unhealthy. But they are low risk”: exploring intersections between community food security and food safety

“…Although actions to increase access to fresh and healthy foods (e.g. healthy corner store interventions) are recognized elements shaping food environments, [13][14][15][16] and although formal food safety activities (e.g. licensing, inspection) have recently been noted as policy tools with which to improve food environments, 17 studies that explicitly explore food safety and foodborne disease risk as part of healthy food environments in Canada are lacking.…”