Public Support for Nutrition-Related Actions by Food Companies in Australia: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Findings from the 2020 International Food Policy Study.

Unhealthy food environments contribute to unhealthy population diets. In Australia, the government currently relies on voluntary food company actions (e.g., related to front-of-pack labelling, restricting promotion of unhealthy foods, and product formulation) as part of their efforts to improve population diets, despite evidence that such voluntary approaches are less effective than mandatory policies. This study aimed to understand public perceptions of potential food industry nutrition-related actions in Australia. An online survey was completed by 4289 Australians in 2020 as part of the International Food Policy Study. The level of public support was assessed for six different nutrition-related actions related to food labelling, food promotion, and product formulation. High levels of support were observed for all six company actions, with the highest support observed for displaying the Health Star Rating on all products (80.4%) and restricting children's exposure to online promotion of unhealthy food (76.8%). Findings suggest the Australian public is strongly supportive of food companies taking action to improve nutrition and the healthiness of food environments. However, given the limitations of the voluntary action from food companies, mandatory policy action by the Australian government is likely to be needed to ensure company practices align with public expectations.

Engaging a disadvantaged community with a fruit and vegetable box scheme.

ISSUE ADDRESSED: Interventions which target the determinants of unhealthy diets are required to promote healthy eating and reduce the burdens of diet-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and some cancers. METHODS: Qualitative interviews (n = 12) were conducted to explore the perspectives and experiences of local stakeholders regarding the implementation and uptake of a healthy eating initiative (a fruit and vegetable box scheme) in a disadvantaged, regional community. RESULTS: Factors affecting the community's engagement included marketing strategies, customer experiences, a community-centred approach, partnerships and logistics. CONCLUSIONS: Community engagement is often essential for an intervention to be effective. The factors which influence community engagement should be considered during planning, especially when targeting disadvantaged groups. SO WHAT?: Behavioural change interventions may continue to be met with limited success if community engagement and the overarching structural barriers to healthy eating are not addressed.