Sciensano, Service of Lifestyle and Chronic Diseases, Brussels, Belgium.
Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, UR ALISS, 94205, Ivry-sur-Seine, France.
Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2022 Apr 7;19(1):43. doi: 10.1186/s12966-022-01269-1.
To benchmark and quantitatively assess the transparency, specificity and comprehensiveness of nutrition-related commitments, as well as related practices of the largest Belgian food companies.
The 'Business Impact Assessment on Obesity and population-level nutrition' (BIA-Obesity) was applied to evaluate nutrition-related commitments and practices concerning product formulation, labelling, promotion and accessibility by the biggest Belgian food and non-alcoholic beverage manufacturers (n = 19), supermarkets (n = 5) and quick-service restaurants (n = 7). Publicly available commitments were collected and company representatives given the opportunity to verify and complete the information (2019-2020). Commitments were scored according to the BIA-Obesity. To assess company practices, the following indicators were calculated: median Nutri-Score of product portfolios, the proportion of products not-permitted to be marketed to children (using the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe nutrient profile model), the proportion of ultra-processed food products (using the NOVA-classification) and the proportion of products displaying Nutri-Score on the front-of-pack. Promotions in supermarket flyers were analysed over a one-year period and quick-service restaurant density around schools was calculated. Correlations between commitments and performance indicators were calculated applying the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient.
Eighteen out of 31 companies participated (56%). Overall BIA-Obesity scores for commitments ranged from 2 to 75% (median = 35%) with notable variation across policy domains and food industries. The proportion of portfolios consisting of A and B Nutri-Score products ranged from 0 to 100% (median = 29%). The median proportion of products not-permitted to be marketed to children was 81% (range = 12%-100%) and the median proportion of ultra-processed foods was 75% (range = 2%-100%) across product portfolios. No significant correlations were observed between the strength of commitments and related performance indicators.
Food industry actions do not meet recommended best practices. Performance indicators show large potential for improvement across policy domains and industries. Government regulations are urgently needed to improve food industry efforts and ensure that commitments translate into improved practices.
为了对标并定量评估最大的比利时食品公司在营养相关承诺方面的透明度、针对性和全面性，以及相关实践。
应用“肥胖问题和人群营养商业影响评估”（BIA-Obesity）评估了最大的比利时食品和非酒精饮料制造商（n=19）、超市（n=5）和快餐店（n=7）在产品配方、标签、促销和可及性方面的营养相关承诺和实践。收集了公开的承诺，并为公司代表提供了核实和补充信息的机会（2019-2020 年）。根据 BIA-Obesity 对承诺进行评分。为了评估公司实践，计算了以下指标：产品组合的中位数 Nutri-Score、不允许向儿童推销的产品比例（使用世界卫生组织欧洲区域办事处营养素模式）、超加工食品的比例（使用 NOVA 分类法）和包装正面显示 Nutri-Score 的产品比例。对超市传单中的促销活动进行了为期一年的分析，并计算了学校周围快餐店的密度。应用 Spearman 等级相关系数计算了承诺与绩效指标之间的相关性。
有 18 家（56%）31 家公司参与。承诺的总体 BIA-Obesity 评分范围为 2%至 75%（中位数=35%），政策领域和食品行业之间存在显著差异。由 A 和 B Nutri-Score 产品组成的产品组合比例范围为 0%至 100%（中位数=29%）。不允许向儿童推销的产品的中位数比例为 81%（范围=12%-100%），产品组合中超加工食品的中位数比例为 75%（范围=2%-100%）。承诺的强度与相关绩效指标之间没有观察到显著相关性。
食品行业的行动不符合建议的最佳实践。绩效指标显示出在政策领域和行业中都有很大的改进潜力。迫切需要政府法规来改善食品行业的努力，并确保承诺转化为改进的实践。
