Articlegold2022

Lobbying and nutrition policy in Canada: a quantitative descriptive study on stakeholder interactions with government officials in the context of Health Canada’s Healthy Eating Strategy

Alexa Gaucher-Holm · Christine Mulligan · Mary R. L’Abbé · Monique Potvin Kent · Lana Vanderlee

23 citations0/0 files storedGlobalization and Health

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Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling Political Influence and Corporate Strategies

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The political activities of industry stakeholders must be understood to safeguard the development and implementation of effective public health policies. METHODS: A quantitative descriptive study was performed using data from Canada's Registry of Lobbyists to examine the frequency and governmental target of lobbying that occurred between various types of stakeholders (i.e., industry versus non-industry) and designated public office holders (DPOH) regarding Health Canada's Healthy Eating Strategy, from September/2016 to January/2021. Initiatives of interest were revisions to Canada's Food Guide, changes to the nutritional quality of the food supply, front-of-pack nutrition labelling and restrictions on food marketing to children. RESULTS: The majority of registrants (88%), and corporations and organizations (90%) represented in lobbying registrations had industry ties. Industry-affiliated stakeholders were responsible for 86% of communications with DPOH, interacting more frequently with DPOH of all ranks, compared to non-industry stakeholders. Most organizations and corporations explicitly registered to lobby on the topic of marketing to children (60%), followed by Canada's Food Guide (48%), front-of-pack nutrition labelling (44%), and the nutritional quality of the food supply (23%). The food and beverage industry, particularly the dairy industry, was the most active, accounting for the greatest number of lobbying registrations and communications, followed by the media and communication industry. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest a strategic advantage of industry stakeholders in influencing Canadian policymakers. While some safeguards have been put in place, increased transparency would allow for a better understanding of industry discourse and help protect public health interests during the policy development process.

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2013INFORMAS ( I nternational N etwork for F ood and O besity/non‐communicable diseases R esearch, M onitoring and A ction S upport): overview and key principles 2016Playing the policy game: a review of the barriers to and enablers of nutrition policy change 2016Analysis of the corporate political activity of major food industry actors in Fiji 2019Public health and the ultra-processed food and drink products industry: corporate political activity of major transnationals in Latin America and the Caribbean 2018Analysis of corporate political activity strategies of the food industry: evidence from France 2018Lobbying against sugar taxation in the European Union: Analysing the lobbying arguments and tactics of stakeholders in the food and drink industries 2021Big food and the World Health Organization: a qualitative study of industry attempts to influence global-level non-communicable disease policy 2016Exploring power and influence in nutrition policy in Australia

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