Yin Xuejun, Ye Lihong, Xin Xin, Xiang Lin, Yu Yue, Yan Ruijie, Wen Kehan, Tian Maoyi, Jones Alexandra, Pettigrew Simone, Zhang Juan
School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Newtown, NSW, Australia.
Front Nutr. 2022 May 23;9:871062. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.871062. eCollection 2022.
Front-of-pack (FoP) labeling on packaged foods is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to reduce diet-related non-communicable diseases, but it has not yet been implemented in China. The introduction of FoP labeling is driven by multiple institutions and stakeholders. This study aimed to identify key institutional actors involved in FoP labeling and describe links between actors to support future FoP labeling policies and programmes in China.
The Net-Map method was adopted. We conducted Net-map activities with eight participants using face-to-face interviews between November 2020 and May 2021. Participants were asked to identify actors involved in the development and implementation of FoP labeling in China, describe networks among actors according to pre-defined link types (command, dissemination, funding, and technical assistance), and estimate influence of each actor within the FoP labeling landscape. Social network analysis measures of cohesion and centrality were used to describe each network. Gephi software was used for social network analysis and network visualization.
Forty-one unique actors were identified across seven actor categories including government agencies ( = 14), technical support agencies ( = 7), professional associations ( = 10), food industry groups ( = 2), media groups ( = 4), international organizations ( = 3), and a consumer group ( = 1). Weighted influence scores among actors ranged from 0.13 to 3.13. The Department of Food Safety Standards, Risk Surveillance and Assessment of the National Health Commission (DFSSRSA of NHC) was the actor with the highest weighted influence score, followed by the Bureau of Disease Prevention and Control of National Health Commission, Chinese Nutrition Society, and the National Institute for Nutrition and Health of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. DFSSRSA of NHC played a central role in both command and technical assistance networks. State-owned media had the greatest betweenness and outdegree centrality in the dissemination network. The Chinese Nutrition Society was in the central position and provided funding to diverse actors in the funding network.
A variety of multisectoral actors have an interest in the introduction of FoP labeling policies and programmes. Effectively engaging key actors identified in this study can generate a multisectoral commitment to advance FoP labeling policies and programmes in China.
世界卫生组织（WHO）建议在包装食品上采用包装正面（FoP）标签，以减少与饮食相关的非传染性疾病，但中国尚未实施。FoP标签的引入由多个机构和利益相关者推动。本研究旨在确定参与FoP标签的关键机构行为者，并描述行为者之间的联系，以支持中国未来的FoP标签政策和计划。
采用网络映射法。2020年11月至2021年5月期间，我们与8名参与者进行了面对面访谈，开展了网络映射活动。要求参与者识别参与中国FoP标签制定和实施的行为者，根据预先定义的联系类型（指挥、传播、资金和技术援助）描述行为者之间的网络，并估计每个行为者在FoP标签领域内的影响力。使用凝聚力和中心性的社会网络分析指标来描述每个网络。使用Gephi软件进行社会网络分析和网络可视化。
在包括政府机构（=14）、技术支持机构（=7）、专业协会（=10）、食品行业团体（=2）、媒体团体（=4）、国际组织（=3）和一个消费者团体（=1）在内的七个行为者类别中，共识别出41个独特的行为者。行为者之间的加权影响力得分在0.13至3.13之间。国家卫生健康委食品安全标准与监测评估司（NHC的DFSSRSA）是加权影响力得分最高的行为者，其次是国家卫生健康委疾病预防控制局、中国营养学会和中国疾病预防控制中心营养与健康所。NHC的DFSSRSA在指挥和技术援助网络中都发挥了核心作用。国有媒体在传播网络中具有最大的中间中心性和出度中心性。中国营养学会在资金网络中处于中心位置，并为不同的行为者提供资金。
各类多部门行为者对引入FoP标签政策和计划感兴趣。有效吸引本研究中确定的关键行为者，可以促使多部门致力于推进中国的FoP标签政策和计划。
