A snapshot of food-based dietary guidelines implementation in selected countries

Wijesinha‐Bettoni, Ramani; Khosravi, Asha; Ramos, Ana Islas; Sherman, Jane; Hernández-Garbanzo, Yenory; Molina, Verónika; Vargas, Melissa; Hachem, Fatima

doi:10.1016/j.gfs.2021.100533

Cited by 21 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“… SDG 2.1 target by 2030 end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations including infants, to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round. Food based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) provide advice on consumption of particular food groups and dietary patterns to promote overall health and prevent chronic diseases, adapted to the national context ( Herforth et al, 2019 ; Wijesinha-Bettoni et al, 2021 ). A growing body of evidence points out that specific foods and dietary patterns have a substantial role in the prevention of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers, and type 2 diabetes ( Wang et al, 2019 ), though some FBDGs are evaluated incompatible with the agenda on non-communicable diseases ( Springmann et al, 2020 ) and do not address all dietary pattern across the countries ( Costa Leite et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: The Food System Sustainability Compassmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Sustainability Compass for policy navigation to sustainable food systems

Hebinck

Zurek

Achterbosch

et al. 2021

Global Food Security

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Growing acknowledgement that food systems require transformation, demands comprehensive sustainability assessments that can support decision-making and sustainability governance. To do so, assessment frameworks must be able to make trade-offs and synergies visible and allow for inclusive negotiation on food system outcomes relevant to diverse food system actors. This paper reviews literature and frameworks and builds on stakeholder input to present a Sustainability Compass made up of a comprehensive set of metrics for food system assessments. The Compass defines sustainability scores for four societal goals, underpinned by areas of concern. We demonstrate proof of concept of the operationalization of the approach and its metrics. The Sustainability Compass is able to generate comprehensive food system insights that enables reflexive evaluation and multi-actor negotiation for policy making.

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Section: The Food System Sustainability Compassmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Sustainability Compass for policy navigation to sustainable food systems

Hebinck

Zurek

Achterbosch

et al. 2021

Global Food Security

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show abstract

“…The causes of this variation may be complex, including the actions and development of domestic and international legal regimes, the nutrition transition, global investment and trade, and international food industry actors, which may focus on developing infrastructure and growing their market in particular regions. A recent survey suggests that there is substantial variation in how countries ‘implement’ FBDGs by aligning fod policies and programmes with them ( Wijesinha-Bettoni et al, 2021 ). A number of approaches exist, including providing educational materials for school; using FBDGs to develop regulations around public procurement in institutions such as schools and hospitals; and supporting farmers and food producers to grow foods recommended by FBDGs ( Wijesinha-Bettoni et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A recent survey suggests that there is substantial variation in how countries ‘implement’ FBDGs by aligning fod policies and programmes with them ( Wijesinha-Bettoni et al, 2021 ). A number of approaches exist, including providing educational materials for school; using FBDGs to develop regulations around public procurement in institutions such as schools and hospitals; and supporting farmers and food producers to grow foods recommended by FBDGs ( Wijesinha-Bettoni et al, 2021 ). Additional research could evaluate the effectiveness of these different approaches to implementing FBDGs in improving food supply alignment, in order to inform policy decisions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While FBDGs can provide a model, indicating what a healthy diet would look like for a nation's population, there has been a call for other food policies to complement FBDGs and support better adherence throughout the population ( Gonzalez Fischer & Garnett, 2016 ). FBDGs need to be supported by buy-in from different government departments, as well as through coordinated policies such as regulations around public procurement, taxation, advertising, trade, and agriculture ( Gonzalez Fischer & Garnett, 2016 ; Wijesinha-Bettoni et al, 2021 ). A recent survey of FBDG implementation around the world found that some countries with FBDGs did not have a strategy or plan around how they would be implemented or have a budget allocated for implementation, while a majority did not collect monitoring and evaluation data related to FBDGs ( Wijesinha-Bettoni et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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How supportive is the global food supply of food-based dietary guidelines? A descriptive time series analysis of food supply alignment from 1961 to 2013

Astbury

Aguirre

Cullerton

et al. 2021

SSM - Population Health

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Background FAO/WHO have encouraged national governments to create food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) to support healthy diets. However, little is known about the extent to which food supply composition aligns with FBDGs, thereby structurally supporting or undermining population-level adherence. It is also unclear how this alignment has evolved over time. The aim of this study was to determine to what extent the global food supply aligns with FBDGs, and to examine historical trends. Methods Descriptive time series analysis of food supply alignment (FSA), 1961–2013. FSA was characterised as a ratio dividing country-level food supply data by FBDG across four food groups: fruit and vegetables (FV); sugar (SU); fish and seafood (FS); and red and processed meat (RP). FBDG data was collected from guidance produced by international bodies, and from countries with published FBDGs. The food supply was estimated using yearly FAOSTAT data. A population-weighted average of this ratio was created for all countries included in the analysis, and stratified by region and country income. Findings FBDGs from 89 countries were included. Of those, 80% had country guidelines for FV, 34% for SU, 44% for FS, and 21% for RP. FSA (1.0 = perfect alignment) based on global guidelines showed a higher supply than recommended for FV (1.2), SU (1.2) and RP (1.1). FSA based on country guidelines showed a lower supply than recommended for FV (0.9) and a higher supply than recommended for SU (2.3), RP (2.3) and FS (1.4). FSA also showed substantial differences in levels and trends across region and country income. Interpretation As of 2013, food supplies were not aligned with national and international FBDGs and misalignment persisted across five decades with subtantial variation in trends based on geography and country income. The long running nature of these trends suggest that the transition toward sustainable and healthful food systems represent a signifiant global challange. Additionally, acknowledging the degree of misalignment between macro-level structural factors, such as the composition of the food supply, in relation to national or global food policy aims may further aid efforts for population level adherence.

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“…Although the global WHO, GBD and EAT-Lancet recommendations largely overlap in food groups, food components and nutrients addressed, there are differences in optimal levels and ranges of intakes recommended; one reason being that contrary to WHO and GBD, the EAT-Lancet recommendations take into account energy and nutrient adequacy (Online Resource 1). National food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG) represent healthy diets in a culturally appropriate dietary pattern for the country in which they are designed, but many countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, do not have such guidelines (Herforth et al, 2019) and where they exist, they are not implemented to the full potential due to lack of political support, lack of plan for implementation, non-participation of essential stakeholders, lack of resources and capacity, and conflict with market forces (Wijesinha-bettoni et al, 2021). Global and national dietary guidelines have been underutilized as tools for informing rural investment strategies, both in terms of agricultural development (e.g.…”

Section: What Is a Healthy And Sustainably Diet?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Reverse thinking: taking a healthy diet perspective towards food systems transformations

et al. 2021

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Food systems that deliver healthy diets without exceeding the planet’s resources are essential to achieve the worlds’ ambitious development goals. Healthy diets need to be safe, accessible, and affordable for all, including for disadvantaged and nutritionally vulnerable groups such as of smallholder producers, traders, and consumers in low- and middle-income countries. Globally, food systems are experiencing rapid and drastic changes and are failing to fulfil these multiple duties simultaneously. The international community therefore calls for rigorous food systems transformations and policy solutions to support the achievement of healthy diets for all. Most strategies, however, are essentially supply- and market-oriented. Incorporation of a healthy diet perspective in food system transformation is essential to enable food systems to deliver not only on supplying nutritious foods but also on ensuring that consumers have access can afford and desire healthy, sustainable, and culturally acceptable diets. This paper argues that this should be guided by information on diets, dietary trends, consumer motives, and food environment characteristics. Transformational approaches and policies should also take into account the stage of food system development requiring different strategies to ensure healthier diets for consumers. We review current knowledge on drivers of consumer choices at the individual and food environment level with special emphasis on low- and middle income countries, discuss the converging and conflicting objectives that exist among multiple food-system actors, and argue that failure to strengthen synergies and resolve trade-offs may lead to missed opportunities and benefits, or negative unintended consequences in food system outcomes. The paper proposes a menu of promising consumer- and food-environment- oriented policy options to include in the food systems transformation agenda in order to shift LMIC consumer demand towards healthier diets in low- and middle income countries.

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A snapshot of food-based dietary guidelines implementation in selected countries

Cited by 21 publications

References 15 publications

A Sustainability Compass for policy navigation to sustainable food systems

A Sustainability Compass for policy navigation to sustainable food systems

How supportive is the global food supply of food-based dietary guidelines? A descriptive time series analysis of food supply alignment from 1961 to 2013

Reverse thinking: taking a healthy diet perspective towards food systems transformations

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