Evidence review on the impact of non-fiscal regulatory and voluntary policies or interventions on re

Title

Assessing the evidence for the impact of non-fiscal regulatory and voluntary policies on the reformulation of food and drink products

Purpose

The aim of this review is to systematically search the evidence base (including academic literature and grey literature) to assess the evidence of non-fiscal regulatory and voluntary policies or interventions resulting in the reformulation of food and drink products. Policies or interventions may include advertising, promotions, out of home calorie labels, front of pack labels and infant foods labelling policies. We are specifically interested in the reformulation of products to reduce levels of calories, sugar and salt present.

Background

Across the UK, the average diet exceeds the recommended intake for calories, sugar, saturated fat, and salt; and does not meet the recommendations for fruit, vegetables or fibre. To improve the healthiness of average population diets, many governments have introduced regulatory and voluntary food policies, including fiscal and non-fiscal interventions. The aim of these policies is to reduce negative influences or positively influence consumer behaviours, and encourage industry to reformulate products, leading to improved food environments (availability of healthier food products, supportive of healthy choices) and an improvement in diet quality. However, the imapct of these policies on product reformulation is unclear.

Methodology

To systematically review and synthesise the evidence assessing the impact of all non-fiscal regulatory and voluntary policies or interventions, for all food and drink products sold in all sectors (in or out of home), on the reformulation of all nutrients (calories, sugar, salt, fat and improvements in the healthfulness of products).

Timing

Autumn – 2023