Transnational/Global

Resources

• Front-of-package labeling

  This fact sheet describes how front-of-package labels can help consumers make informed, healthier choices and encourage industry to improve the nutritional profile of their products and portfolios. Learn about the different kinds of front-of-package labels in use around the world today, evidence for different label types, and key considerations and best practices for developing and implementing an effective front-of-package labeling policy.

• Food and beverage taxes

  Global maps showing countries and smaller jurisdictions with taxes on sugary or sweetened beverages and/or foods high in nutrients or ingredients of health concern. These taxes aim to curb intake of sugar, salt, saturated or trans fat, or excessive calories to improving public health; to encourage industry to shift their products and portfolios towards healthier products; and to raise revenue. Included are brief descriptions of each tax design and dates of implementation and updates.

• Comments for WHO consultation on the draft fiscal policy guidelines

  The Global Food Research Program submission to World Health Organization's public consultation on draft guidelines on fiscal policies to promote healthy diets

• Taxing sugary drinks: A fiscal policy to improve public health

  Learn about the connections between excess sugar consumption and prevalence of obesity and other noncommunicable diseases, as well as real-world evidence for how sugary drink taxes can reduce sugar intake, improve health, and increase government revenue while decreasing health care costs and the personal and shared burdens of nutrition-related diseases.

• Front-of-package labeling fact sheet

  Fact sheet describing how front-of-package (FOP) labels can help consumers make informed, healthier choices and encourage industry to improve the nutritional profile of their products and portfolios. Learn about the evidence for different FOP labels, what types of labels are in use around the world today, and key elements to consider when developing and implementing an effective FOP labelling policy.

• Comments for WHO consultation on draft marketing policy guidelines

  The Global Food Research Program's submission to the consultation on the World Health Organization's 2022 draft guidelines on policies to protect children from the harmful impact of food marketing.

  View digitally accessible version.

• Front-of-package labeling

  Series of maps showing interpretive labels used on food and beverage packages around around the world. These maps feature national-level, mandatory front-of-package labeling policies as well as government-endorsed voluntary labels. This resource includes a map highlighting countries with front-of-package warning label policies.

• Restrictions on marketing food to children

  Global map showing countries with national-level, mandatory policies aimed at protecting children from harmful marketing for unhealthy foods or beverages by limiting children’s exposure to marketing and/or by limiting the persuasive power of food marketing via restrictions on the use of certain creative marketing techniques. This resource includes a chart comparing policy scope in each country and more details on limits to television advertising.

• Food and beverage marketing

  Fact sheet describing the prevalence and persuasive nature of marketing for unhealthy foods and drinks and its impact on children and adolescents. Learn how food marketing contributes to global childhood obesity and other diet-related diseases, evidence from countries that have implemented policies to restrict food marketing, and evidence-based recommendations for regulations to limit its harms.

• Stages of the Nutrition Transition

  Diagram outlining the five phases of the Nutrition Transition and their associated dietary and activity patterns.

  © Barry M. Popkin, 2021

• Sweet beverage tax evaluations: stakeholders, outcomes, and responses

  Diagram showing the relationships between the interests of governments, health advocates, consumers, and industry, their potential responses to taxes, and measurable outcomes for evaluations.

• School food environment

  Global map showing countries with national-level policies to improve nutrition in public schools by limiting service or sales of foods that do not build health. Key policy interventions mapped include restrictions on nutrients, ingredients, or categories of concern in school meals, competitive food sales, and marketing in schools.

• Ultra-processed foods

  This fact sheet describes ultra-processed foods and drinks and the threat they pose to public health worldwide as they make up increasingly greater portions of the global diet. Learn how to identify ultra-processed products; review the evidence for their association with a multitude of risk factors, diseases, and mortality; see how ultra-processed foods negatively impact the environment and ecosystems; and explore policy options to reduce consumption.

• Industry self-regulation

  Fact sheet describing food and beverage industry voluntary self-regulation in three main areas of public health concern: 1) Child-directed food marketing; 2) front-of-package labelling; and 3) reducing unhealthy nutrients in the food supply. While self-regulation continues to be the most common approach globally for addressing industry’s role in the ongoing obesity crisis, this fact sheet details a large body of independent evidence demonstrating that these measures have been ineffective and insufficient.

• School food environments

  This fact sheet describes the impact of unhealthy school food environments on childhood obesity and wellness. Learn about policies that can improve the school food environment, including setting nutrition standards for school meal programs, restricting access to unhealthy foods and drinks, ensuring access to healthy options, protecting children from food industry marketing, and protecting the food environment around schools. Children need these policies to grow, develop, and succeed at school and beyond the school grounds.