An overview of EU-level policies influencing food environments in EU Member States.
The Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI): EU
The Policy Evaluation Network has published a report on the answer to the question ‘Which current EU-level policies have a (potential) positive influence on the food environment?’
Overweight, obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases have risen dramatically in the past decennia, caused by changes in dietary and physical activity patterns. The current food environment (e.g. easy availability of energy-dense, fat- and sugar-rich, and ultra-processed foods) is one of the key factors contributing to this public health problem. Government policies have the potential to improve these food environments, making a healthy choice easier. This document describes EU-level policies which have a (potential) influence on the healthiness of food environments in EU member states, using the Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI) developed by the International Network for Food and Obesity/Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Research, Monitoring and Action Support (INFORMAS).
This Food-EPI study has been conducted by Sanne Djojosoeparto (Human Geography, UU), Maartje Poelman (Chairgroup Consumption & Healthy Lifestyles, Wageningen University & Research) and Carlijn Kamphuis (Interdisciplinary Social Science, UU), on behalf of the Policy Evaluation Network (https://www.jpi-pen.eu/).