Evaluation and prioritization of food environment policies in Norway using the Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI)

Liv Elin Torheim; Anne Lene Løvhaug; Camilla Sanne Huseby; Sigrun Henjum; Laura Terragni; Maartje  Poelman; Janas Harrington; Stefanie Vandevijvere; Gun Roos

doi:10.29219/fnr.v67.9117

Liv Elin Torheim Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3161-1635
Anne Lene Løvhaug Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7703-8352
Camilla Sanne Huseby Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University
Sigrun Henjum Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0671-2688
Laura Terragni Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5313-7471
Maartje Poelman Chair group Consumption and Healthy Lifestyles, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4346-4481
Janas Harrington HRB Centre for Health and Diet Research, School of Public Health, University College Cork, Ireland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6238-7031
Stefanie Vandevijvere Sciensano, Department of epidemiology and public health, Brussel, Belgium https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3225-7524
Gun Roos Consumption Research Norway – SIFO, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8551-2491

DOI: https://doi.org/10.29219/fnr.v67.9117

Keywords: food environment, public health, policy, non-communicable diseases, benchmarking

Abstract

Background: Government policies promoting healthier food environments can contribute to healthier diets and prevent obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases.

Objective: To assess the level of implementation of internationally recommended food environment policies in Norway and establish prioritised actions to create healthier food environments.

Design: The Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI) was adapted to the Norwegian context. It comprised 45 good practice indicators of government food environment policy and infrastructure support. Systematically compiled evidence of relevant policies was verified by government officials and formed the basis for assessing the level of implementation of these policies compared against international best practice benchmarks. The assessment was done by a national non-government expert panel (n = 35). The experts thereafter proposed and prioritized policy actions for government implementation.

Results: Most indicators were rated at a medium or high degree of implementation in both the policy action (69%) and the infrastructure support (77%) components. No indicators were rated as having ‘none or very little implementation’. Among the 14 recommended policy actions, active use of price regulation to increase the price of unhealthy foods and decrease the price of healthy foods was the highest priority. Other top priorities were ensuring healthy food environments in public settings and introducing free school meals. Demonstrating knowledge-based and coherent political leadership in public health nutrition policies was the highest priority among the 11 recommended infrastructure support actions.

Conclusion: The overall policies in Norway to promote a healthy diet show a medium to high level of implementation. This study highlights that there is still room for additional improvements in Norwegian policies and infrastructure support to promote healthy food environments.

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Author Biographies

Anne Lene Løvhaug, Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University

Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University

PhD student

Camilla Sanne Huseby, Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University

Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University

Sigrun Henjum, Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University

Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University

Professor

Laura Terragni, Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University

Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University

Associate Professor

Maartje Poelman, Chair group Consumption and Healthy Lifestyles, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

Chair group Consumption and Healthy lifestyles, Wageningen University

Janas Harrington, HRB Centre for Health and Diet Research, School of Public Health, University College Cork, Ireland

HRB Centre for Health and Diet Research, School of Public Health, University College Cork

Stefanie Vandevijvere, Sciensano, Department of epidemiology and public health, Brussel, Belgium

Sciensano, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health

Gun Roos, Consumption Research Norway – SIFO, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University

Consumption Research Norway – SIFO, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University

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