Exploring power and influence in nutrition policy in Australia

Abstract

The food industry is often described as having more power and influence in nutrition policymaking than nutrition professionals, scientists and other practitioners working for the public interest; yet authors often allude to this point as an assumed truth, rather than an evidence-based fact. This paper applies social network analysis techniques to provide a concise evidence-based demonstration of the food industry's capacity to influence nutrition policymaking networks in Australia. Network analysis using four rounds of data collection was undertaken, and the capacity of individual actors and occupational categories to influence policy decision makers were analysed. Network graphs were developed using cluster analysis to identify the structure of clusters and the path distance of actors from decision makers. The assumed advantage for the 'food industry' was present both strategically in overall network position and with respect to the number of direct access points to 'decision makers', whereas 'nutrition professionals' were densely clustered together with limited links to key 'decision makers'. The results demonstrate that the food industry holds the strategic high ground in advocating their interests to policymakers in the contexts studied. Nutrition professionals may be hampered by their reliance on strong ties with other nutrition professionals as well as limited direct links to 'decision makers'.

Pathways of undue influence in health policy-making: a main actor’s perspective

“…An exception we have found is the recent report by Cullerton  et al on influence in nutrition policy in Australia 10. Our results show that the degree of capture is greater than expected as all levels of government are successfully targeted in order to influence health policy.…”

Effective advocacy strategies for influencing government nutrition policy: a conceptual model

“…The conceptual model described in this paper was developed through the integration and synthesis of results from three studies published previously by the authors along with policy process and network theory [3, 16–18]. The purpose of these studies was to explore the factors influencing public health nutrition policymaking in Australia.…”

“…The purpose of these studies was to explore the factors influencing public health nutrition policymaking in Australia. Methods across the three studies included a systematic literature review identifying the barriers and enablers to public health nutrition policy change [3], social network analysis with a focus on network structures, clusters and normalised measures of centrality dispersion [16, 18], and in-depth semi-structured interviews with key nutrition policy influencers ( n  = 37) including health advocates, food industry senior executives and politicians, examining the factors enabling nutrition policy change [17]. Incorporated into the design and the analysis of each of these studies was policy process theory [11–13] and network analysis theory (see Table 1) [19, 20].…”

“…An interpretive synthesis, involving induction and interpretation to identify key themes, was undertaken.• Political will is required for policy change• Public will is an enabler, but not essential for change• Health professionals find it difficult to influence nutrition policy change• Barriers and enablers do exist that may be of use to health professionals. These include: pressure from industry, neoliberal ideology, use of emotions and values, and being visible.Network analysis [16, 18]Social network analysis techniques were used to explore the capacity of different individuals and interest groups to influence nutrition policymaking networks in Australia. Four rounds of data collection was undertaken and the capacity of individual actors and occupational categories e.g.…”

“…Public health nutrition was chosen as the focus for this model because there has been limited national policy action occurring in the field of public health nutrition in Australia for the past decade [15, 16]. This limited policy action can be partly explained through the power and influence of the food industry but also through the limited advocacy skills, knowledge and resources that nutrition professionals, be that practitioners or academics, possess [3, 16]. Through understanding the key steps of the conceptual model we have developed advocates will be better equipped to increase political and public will, which may better facilitate positive public health nutrition policy change.…”