The Gift of Data: Industry-Led Food Reformulation and the Obesity Crisis in Europe

Campbell, Norah; Browne, Sarah; Claudy, Marius; Mialon, Mélissa; Herçberg, Serge; Goiana-da-Silva, Francisco; Finucane, Francis

doi:10.1177/0743915620983842

Cited by 12 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…Food and beverage reformulation is usually prompted by national policy or law [ 7 ]. However, the effectiveness of voluntary policies and initiatives, such as industry-led reformulation policies, to improve the healthiness of food environments has been called into question due to their weak accountability systems to measure and ensure the achievement of targets [ 56 , 57 , 58 ]. The majority of studies included in this review reported on voluntary food reformulation policies such as those implemented in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK [ 15 , 39 , 45 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reformulation of Processed Yogurt and Breakfast Cereals over Time: A Scoping Review

O’Mahony

O'Donovan

Collins

et al. 2023

IJERPH

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Poor diet is responsible for a quarter of European non-communicable disease (NCD)-related deaths. The reformulation of sugar, salt, and saturated fat in processed packaged foods offers an opportunity to reduce consumption of nutrients of concern and also support a reduction in energy intake. To date, there have been no publications measuring progress in food reformulation by compiling published evidence for a food category. The aim of this scoping review was to identify, characterize and summarise the findings of studies analysing the reformulation of processed yogurt and breakfast cereals. The review answered the research question: “What is the impact of food reformulation on the nutrient quality of yogurt and breakfast cereals available in the retail environment?” The research protocol was defined based on PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Five databases were searched in May 2022. Thirteen studies, published between 2010 and 2021 and completed across seven countries were eligible for inclusion. There were sufficient eligible studies to identify trends in sodium, salt, and sugar reduction in breakfast cereals. However, there was minimal or no reduction in energy, which may bring into question the use of food reformulation as part of an overall health strategy for obesity reduction.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reformulation of Processed Yogurt and Breakfast Cereals over Time: A Scoping Review

O’Mahony

O'Donovan

Collins

et al. 2023

IJERPH

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show abstract

“…So far, reformulation of sugary products in Canada lead to mitigate results [ 8 ]. Finally, industry-led reformulation data could be a way to delay implementation of effective nutrition public health policies aiming at improving the population’s diet [ 31 ], thus, it is important to count on independent monitoring of the food supply.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods Is Associated with Free Sugars Intake in the Canadian Population

et al. 2022

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Excess sugar consumption can lead to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as type 2 diabetes. Increasingly, ultra-processed foods (UPF) are suspected to be great contributors to free sugars intake in the population’s diet. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between UPF consumption and free sugars intake in the Canadian population. We used data from one 24 h-recall of the nationally representative 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey–Nutrition (CCHS). Food items were classified according to the NOVA systems, and to estimate free sugars intake, we used the University of Toronto’s Food Label Information Program (FLIP) 2017 database. Results: Almost half of the population’s energy intake (45.7%) came from UPF. On average, 221.5 kcal/day came from free sugars, and most of these calories (71.5%) came from UPF. Public health policies aiming to decrease consumption of UPF should be a priority considering their important contribution to sugar intake in the population.

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“…This is potentially concerning considering a growing body of evidence indicating that industry-funded research is more likely to reach favourable or nonthreatening conclusions than independent research [ 154 – 158 ]. Similarly, “gifted” data may come with an implicit expectation of reciprocity [ 159 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Corporate political activity in the context of unhealthy food advertising restrictions across Transport for London: A qualitative case study

Lauber

Hunt²,

Gilmore

et al. 2021

PLoS Med

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Background Diets with high proportions of foods high in fat, sugar, and/or salt (HFSS) contribute to malnutrition and rising rates of childhood obesity, with effects throughout the life course. Given compelling evidence on the detrimental impact HFSS advertising has on children’s diets, the World Health Organization unequivocally supports the adoption of restrictions on HFSS marketing and advertising. In February 2019, the Greater London Authority introduced novel restrictions on HFSS advertising across Transport for London (TfL), one of the most valuable out-of-home advertising estates. In this study, we examined whether and how commercial actors attempted to influence the development of these advertising restrictions. Methods and findings Using requests under the Freedom of Information Act, we obtained industry responses to the London Food Strategy consultation, correspondence between officials and key industry actors, and information on meetings. We used an existing model of corporate political activity, the Policy Dystopia Model, to systematically analyse arguments and activities used to counter the policy. The majority of food and advertising industry consultation respondents opposed the proposed advertising restrictions, many promoting voluntary approaches instead. Industry actors who supported the policy were predominantly smaller businesses. To oppose the policy, industry respondents deployed a range of strategies. They exaggerated potential costs and underplayed potential benefits of the policy, for instance, warning of negative economic consequences and questioning the evidence underlying the proposal. Despite challenging the evidence for the policy, they offered little evidence in support of their own claims. Commercial actors had significant access to the policy process and officials through the consultation and numerous meetings, yet attempted to increase access, for example, in applying to join the London Child Obesity Taskforce and inviting its members to events. They also employed coalition management, engaging directly and through business associations to amplify their arguments. Some advertising industry actors also raised the potential of legal challenges. The key limitation of this study is that our data focused on industry–policymaker interactions; thus, our findings are unable to present a comprehensive picture of political activity. Conclusions In this study, we identified substantial opposition from food and advertising industry actors to the TfL advertising restrictions. We mapped arguments and activities used to oppose the policy, which might help other public authorities anticipate industry efforts to prevent similar restrictions in HFSS advertising. Given the potential consequences of commercial influence in these kinds of policy spaces, public bodies should consider how they engage with industry actors.

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The Gift of Data: Industry-Led Food Reformulation and the Obesity Crisis in Europe

Cited by 12 publications

References 58 publications

Reformulation of Processed Yogurt and Breakfast Cereals over Time: A Scoping Review

Reformulation of Processed Yogurt and Breakfast Cereals over Time: A Scoping Review

Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods Is Associated with Free Sugars Intake in the Canadian Population

Corporate political activity in the context of unhealthy food advertising restrictions across Transport for London: A qualitative case study

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