Lauren Dinour, Liza Fuentes and Nicholas Freudenberg from City University of New York prepared this fantastic report for policy makers, advocates, and health professionals. Its goal is to educate and spark debate on food policy choices.
They wrote:
One way the food industry protects its prerogatives is to make arguments that discourage public action. For example, industry trade groups argue that “individuals are responsible for what they eat and it’s unfair to expect the food industry to deprive people of what they want” that “in a free market, it’s better for industry to regulate itself than for government to impose rules” and “that no food by itself causes obesity. If we eat responsibly, there’s no reason to change our diet”.
To change the status quo, advocates of healthier food policies must challenge common arguments against action and encourage a public dialogue on health, individual and corporate responsibility, and the appropriate role for government.
The report proposes some actions for New York City to consider:
Create local healthy food zones
Healthy food zones in schools, churches, health centers, and other neighborhood institutions would not sell, advertise, or promote unhealthy products. Use zoning laws to reduce density of unhealthy food outlets.
Healthy food zones in schools, churches, health centers, and other neighborhood institutions would not sell, advertise, or promote unhealthy products. Use zoning laws to reduce density of unhealthy food outlets.
Strengthen oversight of deceptive health claims in food advertising
Many food companies seek to sell their products based on health or weight loss claims, even when the scientific foundation for such claims does not exist. To improve health, it is important to stop unhealthy and misleading messages. Local, state, and federal government can play a role in protecting the public against such messages.
Many food companies seek to sell their products based on health or weight loss claims, even when the scientific foundation for such claims does not exist. To improve health, it is important to stop unhealthy and misleading messages. Local, state, and federal government can play a role in protecting the public against such messages.
Discourage racial/ethnic targeting of unhealthy food advertisements
Racially and ethnically targeted food industry practices contribute to the inequities in heath and obesity among Blacks, Latinos, and Whites and set back efforts to achieve national health goals of reducing health disparities.
Racially and ethnically targeted food industry practices contribute to the inequities in heath and obesity among Blacks, Latinos, and Whites and set back efforts to achieve national health goals of reducing health disparities.
Tax unhealthy food such as sweetened soda and other beverages
Taxes have been shown to reduce use of unhealthy products and save taxpayer dollars. Revenues should be used to subsidize healthy food.
Taxes have been shown to reduce use of unhealthy products and save taxpayer dollars. Revenues should be used to subsidize healthy food.
Support counter-advertising campaigns against unhealthy foods
State and local health departments should fund counter-advertising campaigns that encourage people to resist manipulation by the food industry.
State and local health departments should fund counter-advertising campaigns that encourage people to resist manipulation by the food industry.
Restrict advertising and promotion of unhealthy food
Several European countries have shown that it is possible to reduce children’s exposure to food advertising.
Several European countries have shown that it is possible to reduce children’s exposure to food advertising.
Enjoy the report:
Dinour L, Fuentes L, Freudenberg N. Reversing Obesity in New York City: An Action Plan for Reducing the Promotion and Accessibility of Unhealthy Food, CUNY Campaign Against Diabetes and Public Health Association of New York City, October 2008.
Dinour L, Fuentes L, Freudenberg N. Reversing Obesity in New York City: An Action Plan for Reducing the Promotion and Accessibility of Unhealthy Food, CUNY Campaign Against Diabetes and Public Health Association of New York City, October 2008.