Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Iris Van Dam, Stefanie Vandevijvere
Summary: This study benchmarked and quantitatively assessed the transparency, specificity, and comprehensiveness of nutrition-related commitments and practices of major companies in the French food industry. The findings showed that there is room for improvement in both company commitments and performance. Stronger commitments did not necessarily translate into better performance metrics. The French government is urged to regulate food industry practices to promote healthier food environments.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Iris Van Dam, Naomi Reimes, Stefanie Vandevijvere
Summary: This study assesses the performance of the largest Belgian food companies in terms of nutrition-related commitments and practices. The results show that the actions of the food industry do not meet recommended best practices and there is significant potential for improvement. Government regulations are needed to improve the industry's efforts and ensure that commitments translate into improved practices.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
(2022)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Gary Sacks, Janelle Kwon, Stefanie Vandevijvere, Boyd Swinburn
Summary: INFORMAS is an international network that monitors and benchmarks food environments and related policies. It has developed standardized methods for assessing food environment characteristics, contributing to capacity building, advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and policy evaluation. Future efforts to benchmark food environments should include measurements related to environmental sustainability.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF PUBLIC HEALTH, VOL 42, 2021
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ella Robinson, Christine Parker, Rachel Carey, Anita Foerster, Miranda R. Blake, Gary Sacks
Summary: This study investigated the incorporation of nutrition and obesity prevention considerations within institutional investment decision-making regarding food companies in Australia. The results showed that although some institutions have started considering nutrition and obesity prevention, attention to these issues is still limited. The study identified challenges and opportunities at different levels, including the need for improved reporting metrics, articulating financial risks, enhancing investor advocacy, and providing detailed guidance for investors. Better engagement between the public health community, institutional investors, and government regulators is crucial for driving change in investor practice.
GLOBALIZATION AND HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Carmen Maria Sanchez-Nochez, Manuel Ramirez-Zea, Stefanie Vandevijvere, Maria Fernanda Kroker-Lobos
Summary: This study used the INFORMAS Food-EPI index to evaluate the implementation of healthy food environment policies in Guatemala and proposed actions for the government to accelerate their implementation. The results showed that almost all indicators of good practice had a low level of implementation in the country. The expert panel recommended 12 priority actions to tackle obesity and NCDs in Guatemala.
ARCHIVES OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kate Cooper, James Parle, John D. Middleton
Summary: Drug-foods have a significant impact on public health and the environment, and it is necessary to take measures such as advertising and branding restrictions and imposing full fiscal and environmental costs on corporations to mitigate their negative consequences.
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Ramon Sala-Garrido, Manuel Mocholi-Arce, Alexandros Maziotis, Maria Molinos-Senante
Summary: Regulation of water companies is important in protecting citizens' interests, as they are natural monopolies. This study proposes a common set weights (CSW) DEA model for efficiency assessment of Chilean water companies, which showed greater discriminatory capacity compared to traditional techniques. The DEA-CSW approach provides reliable ranking of companies based on their efficiency scores, facilitating regulatory decision-making.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Janelle Kwon, Erica Reeve, Davina Mann, Boyd Swinburn, Gary Sacks
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of Food-EPI Australia initiative on policy change. The initiative was found to support policy processes, increase knowledge of good practice, promote collaboration, and serve as an authoritative reference for policy decisions and advocacy strategies.
PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION
(2022)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Esther van Asselt, Yvette Hoffmans, Elise Hoek-van den Hil, Ine van der Fels-Klerx
Summary: Risk-based monitoring programs are increasingly being used for cost-effective monitoring of food safety. These programs involve three steps: risk-ranking, risk-based inspections, and cost-effective monitoring. Various methods can be used for risk-based inspections, including evaluating FBO's compliance based on company size, historical monitoring data, and socio-economic factors.
JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Sally Mackay, Ana Renker-Darby, Ella Robinson, Grace Shaw, Gary Sacks
Summary: This study aimed to develop a set of metrics for assessing the commitments and practices of food companies regarding environmental sustainability, in order to improve accountability for action and provide information for government regulatory responses.
Article
Urban Studies
Margriet Goossensen, Xavier Garcia, Marta Garcia-Sierra, Laura Calvet-Mir, Elena Domene
Summary: This study explores the contribution of convenience stores in Barcelona to healthy food environments and finds that they are as equally available and of good-medium quality as supermarkets in terms of fruits and vegetables. However, convenience stores are 18% more expensive than supermarkets. Therefore, further research is needed to evaluate the implications of affordability in low-income neighborhoods.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Ella Robinson, Miranda R. Blake, Gary Sacks
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of the BIA-Obesity Australia Initiative on major Australian food and beverage companies' nutrition-related policies. The results showed that company representatives perceive this initiative as helpful for improving nutrition-related policies and practices in their companies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Business
Lexis Alexander Tetteh, Cletus Agyenim-Boateng, Samuel Nana Yaw Simpson
Summary: This paper explores the institutional pressures and accountability processes in indigenous oil companies in Ghana in pursuit of sustainable development goals (SDGs). Qualitative research strategy is employed, with semi-structured interviews used to collect empirical data. The findings show that indigenous oil companies are sensitive to both internal and external stakeholder pressure in their pursuit of SDGs. However, coercive pressures from regulators do not always result in actual change, and non-governmental actors have taken on the role of 'regulator' of organizational practices.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Tracy L. Schumacher, Carissa A. Alderton, Leanne J. Brown, Susan Heaney, Laura Alston, Katherine Kent, Stephanie Louise Godrich
Summary: This study aimed to adapt existing Australian scoring tools for food retail outlets to represent rural locations. Through a modified Delphi technique, rural nutrition experts were engaged to modify and develop a tool that reflects the unique characteristics of rural retail outlets. The developed tool accurately assesses the healthiness of food outlets in rural areas and is important in studying the link between the food environment and health in rural populations.
Article
Agronomy
Alessandra De Chiara
Summary: The international competitiveness of Italian agri-food companies is significantly correlated with corporate social responsibility practices, particularly in terms of standards adoption. The choice of standards plays a crucial role in enhancing the international performance of the companies.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Benjamin Wood, David McCoy, Phil Baker, Owain Williams, Gary Sacks
Summary: This study aims to examine the long-term trends in wealth and income distribution among publicly listed corporations active in unhealthy commodity industries. The findings reveal a distributive injustice, as these corporations distribute less wealth and income to governments in low- and middle-income countries and more to shareholders and investors based in high-income countries.
CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Simone Pettigrew, Leon Booth, Elizabeth Dunford, Tailane Scapin, Jacqui Webster, Jason Wu, Maoyi Tian, D. Praveen, Gary Sacks
Summary: This study assessed support for a broad range of nutrition interventions across seven countries. The results showed substantial support for interventions involving food labelling and food reformulation, while fiscal interventions had the weakest support. Factors associated with stronger support were higher self-rated health, higher educational attainment, female sex, older age, and perceptions of consuming a healthy diet.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Benjamin Wood, Gary Sacks
Summary: Share buybacks are recognized as potentially harmful to society, contributing to economic inequalities and hindering investments that protect and promote stakeholders' welfare. However, there has been minimal analysis of share buybacks in the public health literature. This study aimed to explore the influence of share buybacks on population health and health inequity using a socio-ecological determinants of health lens. The findings highlight the substantial expenditure on share buybacks by US-listed corporations and the prioritization of short-term financial interests over investments that could benefit public health.
GLOBALIZATION AND HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Bridget Kelly, Kathryn Backholer, Emma Boyland, Monique Potvin Kent, Marie A. Bragg, Tilakavati Karupaiah, SeeHoe Ng
Summary: Protecting children from unhealthful food marketing is an important policy priority worldwide. Monitoring the nature and extent of children's exposure to such marketing is crucial for policy development. This review provides an overview of contemporary approaches to monitoring food marketing in order to support policy reform.
CURRENT NUTRITION REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Christina Zorbas, Florentine Martino, Tara Heneghan, Jane Potter, Melanie Chisholm, Adrian J. Cameron, Gary Sacks, Jaithri Ananthapavan, Kathryn Backholer
Summary: This study investigated the engagement and attitudes of Victorian parents and club officials towards the sponsorship of junior sports by unhealthy food and beverage companies. The results showed that most parents were concerned about their children's exposure to such sponsorship, while club officials believed that higher-level regulations and support are needed for transitioning towards healthier sponsorship models.
AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
David Hammond, Rachel B. Acton, Vicki L. Rynard, Christine M. White, Lana Vanderlee, Jasmin Bhawra, Marcela Reyes, Alejandra Jauregui, Jean Adams, Christina A. Roberto, Gary Sacks, James F. Thrasher
Summary: The study examined the awareness, use, and understanding of NFTs and FOPLs among young people. It found that the mandated Warning FOPLs in Mexico and Chile had higher levels of awareness, use, and understanding compared to NFTs and GDA FOPLs in other countries.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Magda Rosin, Leanne Young, Yannan Jiang, Stefanie Vandevijvere, Wilma Waterlander, Sally Mackay, Cliona Ni Mhurchu
Summary: This study aims to examine the frequency of promotions on breakfast cereals and drinks in a major New Zealand supermarket chain, determine the healthiness of promoted versus non-promoted products, and quantify the effects of promotions on sales. The results showed that promotions have a significant impact on sales, therefore, focusing on promoting healthier products could be an important strategy to improve the healthiness of supermarket food purchases.
NUTRITION & DIETETICS
(2023)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Magda Rosin, Sally Mackay, Sarah Gerritsen, Lisa Te Morenga, Gareth Terry, Cliona Ni Mhurchu
Summary: This review examined the barriers and facilitators to the implementation of healthy food and drink policies in public sector workplaces for the general adult population. The findings suggest that a ratified policy, positive stakeholder relationships, creating customer demand, and addressing food supply limitations are key factors for successful implementation of these policies.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Alexa Gaucher-Holm, Benjamin Wood, Gary Sacks, Lana Vanderlee
Summary: This study analyzed the structure of the Canadian food and beverage manufacturing and grocery retailing sectors in 2020/21. It found that the packaged food manufacturing sector and non-alcoholic beverage manufacturing sector were dominated by foreign multinational companies, while the grocery retailing sector was dominated by national companies. Market concentration varied across sectors, with the retailing and non-alcoholic beverage sectors having higher concentration. A small number of large corporations in the retailing sector have extensive power to influence Canadian food environments.
GLOBALIZATION AND HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Development Studies
Benjamin Wood, Owain Williams, Phil Baker, Gary Sacks
Summary: In recent decades, the global consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) has increased, leading to negative impacts on public health and the environment. This study examined the long-term trends in the structure and market dynamics of the global UPF manufacturing industry to better understand the drivers of this dietary transition. By using various methods, metrics, and data sources, the study found that the UPF manufacturing industry has become a significant component of global food systems, with dominant corporations accumulating high profits and distributing capital. To reverse this global UPF dietary transition, structural and regulatory changes are necessary to ensure that population diets and food systems are not controlled by powerful for-profit corporations.
JOURNAL OF AGRARIAN CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ella Robinson, Jasmine Chan, Meghan O'Hearn, Dariush Mozaffarian, Gary Sacks
Summary: This study compared the nutrition-related assessment criteria and performance of food companies across three prominent assessment tools. The results showed that the overall nutrition-related performance was low across all tools. The domain with the highest score was 'Governance and Reporting', while 'Product Portfolio' and 'Accessibility and Affordability' had the lowest scores.
PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Lana Vanderlee, Alexa Gaucher-Holm, Maggie Le-Brassard, Caroline Vaillancourt
Summary: This study examined the availability of calorie labelling on major online food delivery platforms for the largest restaurant brands in Canada, and compared the differences between provinces with and without mandatory calorie labelling regulations. The analysis included data from three selected restaurant locations within each province on each platform. The study found that calorie labelling was more common in Ontario (68.7%) compared to Alberta (44.4%) and Quebec (39.1%), and a higher percentage of restaurant brands in Ontario had calorie labelling for more than 90% of items compared to Quebec and Alberta.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH-REVUE CANADIENNE DE SANTE PUBLIQUE
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Amanda Lee, Lakeisa Boykin
Summary: Bereavement can lead to changes in roles, habits, and routines, as well as social and leisure participation and daily activities for graduate students. This study aimed to identify their needs and problem areas after the loss of a loved one, in order to inform the role of occupational therapy in assisting students during the bereavement process.
CADERNOS BRASILEIROS DE TERAPIA OCUPACIONAL-BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
(2023)
Review
Medical Laboratory Technology
Hui Ching Low, William M. Chilian, Wickneswari Ratnam, Tilakavati Karupaiah, Mohd Fairulnizal Md Noh, Fazliana Mansor, Zhi Xiang Ng, Yuh Fen Pung
Summary: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a major chronic metabolic disorder, and mitochondria dysfunction is implicated in its development. Factors like mtDNA methylation that regulate mitochondrial function are of interest in managing T2DM. This paper provides an overview of epigenetics, nuclear and mitochondrial DNA methylation, and reviews the association between mtDNA methylation and T2DM, as well as the challenges in mtDNA methylation studies. This review can enhance our understanding of the impact of mtDNA methylation on T2DM and future advancements in its treatment.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Alexandra Jones, Maria Shahid, Georgia Morelli, Kylie Howes, Devorah Riesenberg, Katherine Sievert, Simone Pettigrew, Gary Sacks
Summary: The prevalence and types of child-directed promotional techniques used on food packaging in Australia were investigated, and it was found that these techniques are commonly used on unhealthy food products. Stronger regulation is needed to protect children's health.
PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION
(2023)