Oral Presentation ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting 2021

Attenuating the harms of ultra-processed food consumption for healthy and sustainable food systems: is Australia’s national food regulatory system fit for purpose? (#90)

Tanita Northcott 1 , Phillip Baker 1 , Mark Lawrence 1 , Christine Parker 2
  1. School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia
  2. Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) – for example, soft drinks, snack foods, mass-produced breads and confectionery – are harmful to human health. The consumption of UPFs is linked to poor health outcomes, including an increased risk of obesity and non-communicable diseases. UPF consumption and production also harms the environment, accounting for more than a third of the total diet-related environmental impact in Australia. Despite the harms, UPF consumption continues to rise across the globe. In Australia, UPF contributes to 42 percent of dietary energy intake, among the highest globally. The drivers of UPF consumption include many food systems-related factors, such as urbanisation and the demand for convenience, and feature substantial commercial influences, including the intensive UPF marketing practices of large transnational UPF corporations. To reduce UPF consumption and the associated harms, an ecological approach to regulation is necessary. This requires a synergistic package of policy measures, a strong role for government intervention and food regulatory frameworks equipped to respond to the drivers of UPF consumption.

This presentation draws on an extensive investigation of the Australian food regulatory system and asks whether it is fit for the purpose of attenuating the drivers associated with UPF consumption. It discusses key aspects and approaches of the current regulatory framework and highlights the implications for regulating UPFs and promoting healthy and sustainable food systems. To capture the multi-faceted and complex nature of the topic, this study uses a narrative review and synthesis method. This qualitative method has been selected to facilitate a comprehensive and contextualised analysis of relevant source materials from various academic disciplines in addition to reports and resources from governmental bodies and related organisations.

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