The INFORMAS healthy food environment policy index (Food‐EPI) in Mexico: An assessment of implementation gaps and priority recommendations

Abstract

Summary Mexico is one of the countries with the highest prevalence of obesity and recently declared a national epidemic of diabetes. Healthy food environments have the potential to improve the diet of the population and decrease the burden of disease. The aim of the study was to assess the efforts of the Mexican Government towards creating healthier food environments using the Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food‐EPI). The tool was developed by the International Network for Food and Obesity/Non‐communicable Diseases Research, Monitoring and Action Support (INFORMAS). Then, it was adapted to the Latin‐American context and assessed the components of policy and infrastructure support. Actors from academia, civil society, government, and food industry assessed the level of implementation of food policies compared with international best practices. Actors were classified as (1) independents from academia and civil society (n = 36), (2) government (n = 28), and (3) industry (n = 6). The indicators with the highest percentage of implementation were those related to monitoring and intelligence. Those related to food retail were rated lowest. When stratified by type of actor, the government officials rated several indicators at a higher percentage of implementation compared with independent actors. None of the indicators were rated at high implementation. Government officials and independent actors agreed upon nine priority actions to improve the food environment in Mexico. These actions have the potential to improve government commitment and advocacy efforts to create healthier food environments.

Policies to Create Healthier Food Environments in Canada: Experts’ Evaluation and Prioritized Actions Using the Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI)

“…This was a transparent process that engaged government throughout, but did not permit self-rating by government stakeholders. Other countries, such as Mexico and Thailand, have included governments in the Food-EPI rating process as a means to increase uptake of the final results, likely resulting in both benefits and challenges to the process [36,37]. While the government was extensively involved throughout the research process in Food-EPI, including in-person meetings with senior officials and involvement as observers, future consideration of government involvement is necessary for subsequent evaluations using the Food-EPI in Canada to ensure uptake of the results and to support policy development and implementation.…”

Beverage consumption and energy intake among Canadians: analyses of 2004 and 2015 national dietary intake data

“…Echoing global developments [26][27][28], since 2004, several policies have been implemented in Canada to promote healthy eating, including reduced sugar intake, such as provincial-level bans on the sale of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in schools [29]. The beverage industry has evolved over the same period to expand the diversity of beverages available, including products containing a wide range of sweeteners and beverages marketed for their 'functional' properties (e.g., caffeine, protein) [30].…”

Implementing Healthy Food Environment Policies in New Zealand: Nine Years of Inaction.

“…While Food-EPI has stimulated little progress in New Zealand, without independent Expert Panels measuring the Governments performance and comparing it over time, there would be little evidence to base calls for policy change and to measure the degree of policy inertia. Progress on recommended actions has occurred in other countries where Food-EPI was undertaken, such as the Australian Government's agreement to the development of a national strategy on obesity [46], a sugar levy introduced in the United Kingdom [47,48] and legislation in Mexico for front-of-pack warning labels [49,50].…”