How big food companies can do more to create healthier food environments

How Big Food Companies Can Do More to Create Healthier Food Environments

Healthy eating is a significant challenge in today’s food environment in Canada. The proliferation of unhealthy, yet appealing, food options can contribute to suboptimal eating patterns among adults and children. The food industry has a crucial role to play in addressing chronic diseases by creating healthier food environments.

The World Health Organization’s global action plan emphasizes the importance of food manufacturers taking actions like reducing salt, saturated fats, and sugars in their products. As the primary creators, distributors, and marketers of the food we consume, food companies have a significant influence on our diets.

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However, companies’ profit-driven interests may not align with public health goals. For instance, a study found that companies’ legally mandated obligations may prioritize shareholders’ interests over public health.

To better understand food industry commitments, our team analyzed the nutrition-related policies and pledges of the largest food and drink manufacturers in Canada, including Nestlé, Coca-Cola, and Danone. We examined their commitments in six key areas: corporate strategy, food reformulation, nutrition information and labeling, marketing and promotion, accessibility and availability, and transparency in relationships.

Our report revealed a range of overall company scores, with the highest score totaling 75 points out of 100, while the lowest score was 18 points. Unilever, the top-performing company, had a defined strategy to support healthier diets, public targets for the proportion of sales from healthier products, and a commitment to report on these targets.

The results showed that many food and beverage companies are not doing enough to positively shape diets in Canada. The median score received was 49/100, a small improvement since our last report. We found that very few companies had made commitments to make healthier foods more available and accessible. Most commitments focused on improving the nutritional quality of their products, with some important areas where none of the 22 companies had made any commitments, such as decreasing spending on marketing unhealthy foods.

Company commitments related to nutrition matter, as they guide companies’ current and future actions, inform shareholders and governments of corporate intentions, and can be used to hold companies accountable for meeting their stated commitments.

Recommendations for Healthier Food Environments

To create healthier food environments, we recommend that food manufacturers:

* Set and publicly report on targets for the proportion of their sales that come from healthier foods
* Commit to specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) targets for the amount of sodium, sugars, and saturated fats in their products and report on their progress
* Commit to pricing healthier foods the same or lower than less healthy foods
* Pledge not to advertise unhealthy products and brands on product packaging or in settings or media where children less than 18 years old may be exposed

Government policies that require companies to make positive changes and create healthier food environments in Canada are crucial. Given the billions of dollars in health-care costs each year caused by diet-related diseases, it is likely worth the investment.

Conclusion

Big food companies have a significant role to play in creating healthier food environments in Canada. While some companies are taking steps in the right direction, others need more incentive to act. We hope that our report will serve as a catalyst for change, encouraging food manufacturers to prioritize public health over profit.

FAQs

Q: Why is it important for food manufacturers to set targets for healthier foods?
A: Setting targets for healthier foods provides a clear direction for companies to prioritize the production and marketing of healthier products, allowing them to track their progress and hold themselves accountable.

Q: What are some examples of food companies that are making progress in creating healthier food environments?
A: Mexico-based international food manufacturer Grupo Bimbo publicly reports the healthfulness of the products it sells and what proportion of its sales come from healthier foods.

Q: Why are government policies necessary to create healthier food environments?
A: Government policies can require companies to make positive changes and create healthier food environments, which is essential for addressing diet-related diseases and promoting public health.

Q: What are some common barriers to creating healthier food environments?
A: Common barriers include the influence of profit-driven interests, a lack of transparency in company commitments, and the difficulty of tracking and reporting on progress.

Q: How can consumers support healthier food environments?
A: Consumers can support healthier food environments by choosing to purchase products from companies that prioritize public health, advocating for government policies that promote healthier food environments, and promoting healthy eating habits within their communities.