Local urban government policies to facilitate healthy and environmentally sustainable diet-related practices: a scoping review

Abstract

Objective: This scoping review sought to describe the policy actions that urban local governments globally have implemented to facilitate healthy and environmentally sustainable diet-related practices. Design: Five databases were searched to identify publications which cited policies being implemented by local governments within the 199 signatory cities of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP) that targeted at least one healthy and sustainable diet-related practice. Grey literature was then searched to retrieve associated policy documentation. Data from both sources were charted against the MUFPP’s monitoring framework to analyse the policy actions included in each overarching policy. Results: From 2624 screened peer-reviewed studies, 27 met inclusion criteria and cited 36 relevant policies amongst signatory cities to the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact. Most were from high income countries (n=29; 81%), considered health (n=31; 86%), equity (n=29; 81%) and the broader food system beyond dietary consumption (n=34; 94%). Of the 66 policy actions described, the most common involved food procurement within public facilities (n=16; 44%) and establishing guidelines for school feeding programs (n=12; 33%). Conclusions: This review has demonstrated that urban local government authorities are implementing policies that consider multiple phases of the food supply chain to facilitate population-wide uptake of healthy and sustainable diet-related practices. Opportunities exist for local governments to leverage the dual benefits to human and planetary health of policy actions, such as those which discourage the overconsumption of food including less meat consumption and the regulation of ultra-processed foods.

The climate crisis is here: a primer and call to action for public health nutrition researchers and practitioners in high-income countries

“…An abundance of literature has proposed and investigated food-related climate change mitigation solutions at multiple levels of influence (e.g., individual, environment, policy, etc.) (35)(36)(37) . At the individual level, providing information about and access to sustainable healthy foods can influence food choice and demand (38) .…”

“…individual, environment, policy, etc.) (35)(36)(37) . At the individual level, providing information about and access to sustainable healthy foods can influence food choice and demand (38) .…”

Interdisciplinary insights on the future of food systems research: perspectives from the next generation of research leaders

“…Based on a review (15) of relevant United Nations' publications, a set of thirteen desirable diet-related practices were identified and presented to demonstrate how they can trigger a whole-of-system transformation, including (i) where food is sourced, (ii) what is eaten, and (iii) how food is consumed. To explore and map policy options available to local government authorities to facilitate the population-wide uptake of these practices, a scoping review (16) of Milan Urban Food Policy Pact signatory cities was published, demonstrating bold leadership and innovation occurring by these urban cities. This review highlighted that while a holistic approach, considering health, equity and the wide scope of the food supply chain is being taken, opportunities exist to leverage the dual benefits to human and planetary health of policy actions, such as those which discourage the overconsumption of food, including animal-derived foods, and the regulation of ultraprocessed foods.…”

Perseverance, partnerships and passion: Ingredients for successful local government policy to promote healthy and sustainable diets

“…Local governments globally are investing in a variety of policy actions to facilitate a population-wide shift towards healthy and sustainable diets (10,11). Evidence suggests that having a dedicated food policy is an effective approach for LGs to progress their food system work, however only some are taking this approach (3,10,11).…”

“…Local governments globally are investing in a variety of policy actions to facilitate a population-wide shift towards healthy and sustainable diets (10,11). Evidence suggests that having a dedicated food policy is an effective approach for LGs to progress their food system work, however only some are taking this approach (3,10,11). Hawkes and Halliday (2017) de ne LG food policies as "a concerted action on the part of [city] governments to address food-related challenges", with documented goals and a description of the various policy actions and key stakeholders required to achieve these(12) , p9 .…”