Grant: Operating Grant

Dietary habits play a fundamental role in health and the development of obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and are largely influenced by the food environment within which food choices are made. The current food environment in Canada is not conducive to making healthy food choices. Government and industry policies both play a large role in improving the food environment, to make the 'healthier choice the easier choice', with downstream effects on obesity and diet-related NCD rates. This study will evaluate policy and actions the government and food industry are taking to create a healthier food environment in Canada, compare these policies and actions to internationally-established best practices, and look to the future for prioritizing actions with potential to improve the food environment in Canada. This study, Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI), will use internationally developed methodology to examine Canadian food policies of government and industry that are known to shape the food environment, including food formulation, food labelling, marketing and advertising, and prices, among others. These tools have been successfully used internationally, and will be adapted to the Canadian context. The process will also identify activities at the intersection of government and the food industry, including political lobbying by food industry, involvement in the policymaking process, and corporate social responsibility. The results will identify strengths, weaknesses and gaps in food policy and action in Canada, and will identify priority areas of action. The work complements similar studies internationally as part of global efforts to improve population health and prevent NCDs.