NOURISHING database

Our database of implemented polices to promote healthy diets & reduce obesity

We developed the NOURISHING framework to highlight where governments need to take action to promote healthy diets and reduce overweight and obesity.

The framework is accompanied by a regularly updated database (last updated 8 May 2019), providing an extensive overview of implemented government policy actions from around the world.

Contact us on policy@wcrf.org with further examples of implemented policies, evaluations of implemented policies or with any other questions or comments.

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^{Copyright © 2019 World Cancer Research Fund International. Please contact us on policy@wcrf.org for permission to replicate any part of the NOURISHING framework and/or policy database. Please do not attempt to create your own version.}

Nutrition label standards and regulations on the use of claims and implied claims on food

The evidence suggests people who want to eat well use nutrient lists to choose healthier options. Interpretative labels help them when they find the labels hard to understand. Nutrition labels also create incentives for food manufacturers to reformulate their products, so helping populations more broadly by increasing the availability of food of higher nutritional value.

Clear standards are also needed on the use of nutrient and health claims. Evidence shows these claims alter the perception people have of these products – making it essential that they do not mislead.

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Examples of policy actions

Mandatory nutrient lists on packaged food*

*Most other countries follow Guideline CAC/GL 2-1985 from the Codex Alimentarius Commission in requiring nutrition labels only when a nutrition or health claim is made and/or on food with special dietary uses

What the action involves and where implemented

Producers and retailers are required by law to provide a list of the nutrient content of pre-packaged food products (with limited exceptions), even in the absence of a nutrition or health claim. The rules define which nutrients must be listed and on what basis (eg per 100g/per serving).

Evaluation
Huang L et al. (2015) A systematic review of the prevalence of nutrition labels and completeness of nutrient declarations on pre-packaged food in China. Journal of Public Health 37(4), 649-658

Rules on nutrient claims (ie nutrient content and nutrient comparative claims)

What the action involves and where implemented

A 2012 Central American Technical Regulation (67.01.60:10) establishes rules on the use of specified nutrient content claims (ie levels of fat for a low-fat claim). Claims are not permitted on products that may promote or sanction excessive consumption of these nutrients or undermine good dietary practice. Although nutrition content claims need to meet certain criteria set out in the Regulation, there are no generalised nutritional criteria that restrict their use on "unhealthy" food.

Rules on health claims (ie nutrient function and disease risk reduction claims)

What the action involves and where implemented

A 2012 Central American Technical Regulation (67.01.60:10) permits and regulates the use of nutrient function and disease risk reduction claims. Claims must be substantiated through information demonstrating the nutritional composition of the food, and the relationship between the claimed function of the food product and the beneficial effect on diet and health. The Ministry of Health has responsibility to approve the use of claims on food containing high levels of nutrients that can increase risk of illness or health problems. Claims are not permitted on products that may promote or sanction excessive consumption of these nutrients or undermine good dietary practice. There are no generalised nutritional criteria that restrict their use on "unhealthy" food.

Harness supply chain & actions across sectors to ensure coherence with health

Policies within this category aim to harness the whole food system, and the sectors which influence it, to ensure coherence with healthy eating. This is because the food system, and the policies that affect it, influence our food environment.

What our food industry produces is in part a response to incentives in the supply chain. Sectors outside of health influence our ability to take policy action. Likewise, if governments implement policies contained in NOURISHING, they have repercussions upstream for the actors and activities in food systems. This wider relationship to the food supply chain presents an opportunity to support all the policies in NOURISHING with actions in the food supply chain.

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Examples of policy actions

Governance structures for multi-sectoral/stakeholder engagement

What the action involves and where implemented

El Salvador

The National Council of Food Security and Nutrition (CONASAN), established in 2009, is responsible for providing guidelines to tackle malnutrition; formulating and monitoring the National Policy and the Strategic Plan for Food Security and Nutrition; monitoring food security and nutrition through relevant indicators, and coordinating institutional and inter-sectoral efforts on food security and nutrition.

The Council includes the Technical and Planning Secretariat of the Presidency and the Ministries of Health, Agriculture and Livestock, Environment and Natural Resources, Governance and Territorial Development, Economy, Labor, Foreign Affairs, Consumer Advocacy, and the Secretariat of Social Inclusion, and works with various public and private sectors, academia, cooperation agencies and civil society.

CONASAN has a Technical Committee on Food Security and Nutrition (COTSAN), which seeks to address the double burden of malnutrition in El Salvador through a multi-sectoral and multi-level governance system. It works at national, departmental and municipal levels with representatives from different sectors. Municipal Committees of Food Security and Nutrition (COMUSAN) are led by mayors and are responsible for preparing and implementing plans to address malnutrition with a territorial approach, and conducting Food Security and Nutrition (FSN) monitoring and evaluation.

Inform people about food & nutrition through public awareness

Awareness is one precursor to eating well. The evidence suggests that public campaigns can boost awareness. To influence consumption, they need to be sustained and use multiple channels.

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Examples of policy actions

Development and communication of food-based dietary guidelines

What the action involves and where implemented

Updated May 2019: Food-based dietary guidelines are an information and communication tool involving the translation of recommended nutrient intakes or population targets into recommendations of the balance of food that populations should be consuming for a healthy diet. They typically promote increased intake of fruit and vegetables and limited intake of salt/sodium and sugar. They may also include guidance on physical activity and healthy weight, and provide guidelines for different population groups. Countries use various formats of presenting the guidelines including cooking pots (Guatemala, Paraguay), pineapples (Fiji), pyramids (India, US), plates (Australia, Colombia, UK), pagodas (China), spinning top (Venezuela), traditional African house (Benin) and circles (Argentina). Some countries have started to include sustainability criteria in their dietary guidelines (eg Germany in 2013, Finland and Brazil in 2014, Sweden and Qatar in 2015, the Netherlands and UK in 2016). Brazil’s revised dietary guidelines, launched in 2014, present food- and meal-based recommendations that take into account cultural dimensions and promote the consumption of minimally processed food as well as health, wellbeing and sustainable food systems, and recommend avoiding ultra-processed food. Canada’s new food guide, launched in 2019, provides guidance on what to eat, as well as how to eat. This includes recommendations on healthy eating habits that encourage people to cook more often, to be mindful of their eating habits, to use food labels, to cook at home and to eat meals with others. The new food guide is an online suite of resources that provides information targeted to different audiences, including the general public, health professionals and policy makers.

Details on the content of national dietary guidelines can be found on the FAO database on Food-based dietary guidelines.

NOURISHING database

Our database of implemented polices to promote healthy diets & reduce obesity

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