Resources

The food and beverage industries employ legal arguments and trade threats to oppose or delay the implementation of front-of-package labeling (FOPL) measures, particularly mandatory “high-in” style labels, with common arguments tied to international trade agreements, prompting the need for advocates to recognize and prepare to respond, as outlined in a table provided by GHAI, along with supporting evidence.

Front of package labeling (FOPL) regulations have been implemented globally as a cost-effective intervention to inform consumers about the nutritional content and potential harm of ultra-processed products, with the warning system being identified as the most effective in influencing purchasing decisions. This document provides a quick comparison of FOPL policy elements among countries and offers key recommendations in addressing multiple standards and implementation details.

Developed by GHAI, in partnership with Vital Strategies, Resolve To Save Lives, and the Global Centre for Legal Innovation on Food Environments, this document provides best practices, case studies and evidence-informed insights to empower decision makers and civil society advocates in developing and implementing effective Nutrient Profile Models. The paper was developed by GHAI, in partnership with Vital Strategies, Resolve To Save Lives and the Global Centre for Legal Innovation on Food Environments and it has been endorsed by more than 40 organizations across the globe.

This FOPL evidence sheet addresses common opposition arguments against front-of-package labeling, emphasizing its effectiveness in informing the public about healthy food choices and countering health risks, with “high in” warning labels identified as particularly effective in aiding consumers to quickly identify less healthy foods and contribute to reducing rates of obesity, diabetes and heart diseases.

This report underscores the importance of front-of-package warning labeling (FOPL) regulations as a crucial public health measure to combat noncommunicable diseases, emphasizing the effectiveness of warning labels on ultra-processed products high in sugar, sodium and fat; it also exposes the UPP industry’s evolving strategies, including attempts to weaken FOPL standards and outlines a corporate playbook with five main strategies aimed at protecting industry interests, providing recommendations for advocates and civil society organizations to counter these practices and contribute to the development of innovative approaches.

In countries where front-of-package labeling policy is being formulated, industry is attempting to weaken the policy by proposing less restrictive policies and systems. This alert sheds some light on the tactics industry is employing to undermine healthy food policies so advocates can anticipate these actions.

The “industry narratives” refers to the set of messages, arguments, discourses and action that impact perceptions of the food and beverage industry. This alert provides civil society organizations with a better understanding of what industry narratives look like, so advocates are better equipped.

This report exposes the unethical marketing practices of the ultra-processed food and beverage industry, particularly targeting vulnerable populations, children and adolescents, demonstrating how these practices contribute to unhealthy food environments, influence policymaking and pose risks to public health and the planet, urging for immediate and mandatory regulations and providing recommendations for governments and civil society organizations to address the issue.

The ultra-processed food and beverage product industry uses advertising, promotion and sponsorship tactics to harmfully attract children. This alert provides a deep dive into predatory commercial practices used around the world—and how civil society organizations can identify them in advocating for healthier and safer food policies and regulations.

Ultra-processed product marketing seeks to generate consumer engagement using compelling appeals through oftentimes aggressive, or deceptive tactics. Ultimately, this influences our food behavior and dietary practices. This alert provides an overview of marketing practices that generally promote brand loyalty via subtle modes and messages so that companies make sure consumers’ perception is positive and advantageous to their businesses.

The ultra-processed product industry fights aggressively to protect its profits by blocking positive public-health measures like taxes. This alert helps equip civil society organizations with strategies to anticipate industry behavior and protect tax policies from vested interests.

Taxing sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is a proven and evidence-based public health strategy to combat obesity, diabetes and heart disease, with at least 46 countries, cities and regions implementing SSB taxes to reduce consumption, encourage healthier choices and address the growing rates of diet-related noncommunicable diseases.

effectiveness of a multifaceted approach involving research, communications and legal strategies to raise awareness and urge decision-makers to implement SSB taxes and other healthy food policies. Key takeaways include the success of SSB taxes in reducing consumption in countries like Mexico and South Africa, considerations for implementation, the absence of evidence linking SSB taxes to job losses and the interplay between legal and communication strategies to garner public support.

This practical tool with six key questions assists policy makers and public health stakeholders in crafting measures to eliminate industrially produced trans fatty acids (TFA) from the food supply, drawing from the experiences of regulated countries and providing lessons learned to aid others in aligning with the World Health Organization’s goal to eradicate TFA.

This practical tool with six key questions assists policy makers and public health stakeholders in crafting measures to eliminate industrially produced trans fatty acids (TFA) from the food supply, drawing from the experiences of regulated countries and providing lessons learned to aid others in aligning with the World Health Organization’s goal to eradicate TFA.

A guide for developing market research on partially hydrogenated oil (PHO) that includes key questions to answer and a recommended methodology.

FULL offers advocates, scholars, lawyers, journalists and policymakers the ability to explore laws and decisions related to food law and policy, particularly those aimed at reducing diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in some selected countries. By providing user-friendly access to the legal sources, FULL allows users to learn about the legal framework applicable in a country and compare legal provisions.

A repository of human rights documents from international human rights treaty bodies and UN mechanisms that support the advancement of public health policies related to food & nutrition and tobacco control.

This guide emphasizes the often-overlooked legal aspects of public health measures and offers a list of seven interdependent steps to assist civil society organizations, public health experts and governments in identifying and addressing legal issues during the early stages of developing impactful measures.

This webinar highlights the detrimental effects of ultra-processed products (UPPs) on health and the environment, emphasizing policy implications. Key takeaways include the NOVA classification system for categorizing foods, evidence linking UPP consumption to health issues, the global shift in dietary patterns towards UPPs, environmental impacts such as plastic pollution and decreased agrobiodiversity and the need for diverse policy strategies, drawing parallels with successful tobacco control measures, to address the growing public health crisis associated with UPPs.

Youth advocates from various countries discussed their experiences and best practices in advocating for healthy food and tobacco policies during the webinar "Rising in their power: A showcase of young leaders changing policies around the globe." The speakers highlighted the importance of engaging and recruiting young advocates, providing them with opportunities for leadership roles and incorporating diverse perspectives into policy development.

This webinar discusses the success of Barbados in adopting a comprehensive National School Nutrition Policy within four years was attributed to effective advocacy grounded in evidence, collaboration with coalition partners, active engagement of youth voices, prioritizing relationship building with stakeholders and demonstrating the policy's feasibility through proactive initiatives like model schools and training events.

This webinar, on Building Effective Coalitions for Public Health Advocacy Campaigns, features insights from a diverse panel of experts, including experiences from Brazil, Barbados, India and Vietnam, highlighting the importance of a single voice and objective, diversity in coalition members, addressing challenges related to industry interference, recognizing each organization's contributions, acknowledging all voices and balancing competing priorities for successful advocacy efforts.

The Global Health Advocacy Incubator collaborated with the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF)’s Industry Documents Library (IDL) to showcase the practical use of UCSF’s Food Industry Documents Archive (FIDA) for food policy advocacy efforts. Advocates from Mexico, Brazil and Colombia shared how they leveraged the archive, including use of documents to support a mass media campaign against ultra-processed products and legal action against Coca-Cola and a Brazilian coalition's campaign supporting Dietary Guidelines by revealing Coca-Cola's opposition. The advocates emphasized the ongoing utility of the IDL for various aspects of their work, such as documenting corporate capture, exposing industry tactics and understanding the food industry's strategies at regional and global levels.