Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2026.103047
Céline Giner , Céline Nauges , Katherine Hassett
This analysis uses OECD survey data from over 8,000 households in nine countries. The paper analyses household profiles via latent class analysis on the basis of both diet composition, as well as purchasing habits for products that are generally perceived to be socially responsible. Results reveal four main household profiles that are distinguished by different broad patterns in these two behaviours. Household profiles are found to differ in terms of their sociodemographic characteristics and attitudes towards the environment, as well as with respect to their level of support for various food policies. Interestingly, results regarding the relationship between environmental attitudes and red meat consumption may suggest the existence of another “meat paradox” in the sense that one group of respondents reports high levels of environmental concern but also a high frequency of meat consumption.
{"title":"Patterns in sustainable food choices and policy support: Novel evidence from nine countries","authors":"Céline Giner , Céline Nauges , Katherine Hassett","doi":"10.1016/j.foodpol.2026.103047","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodpol.2026.103047","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This analysis uses OECD survey data from over 8,000 households in nine countries. The paper analyses household profiles via latent class analysis on the basis of both diet composition, as well as purchasing habits for products that are generally perceived to be socially responsible. Results reveal four main household profiles that are distinguished by different broad patterns in these two behaviours. Household profiles are found to differ in terms of their sociodemographic characteristics and attitudes towards the environment, as well as with respect to their level of support for various food policies. Interestingly, results regarding the relationship between environmental attitudes and red meat consumption may suggest the existence of another “meat paradox” in the sense that one group of respondents reports high levels of environmental concern but also a high frequency of meat consumption.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":321,"journal":{"name":"Food Policy","volume":"139 ","pages":"Article 103047"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-12DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2026.103052
Bernhard Dalheimer , Kenneth Foster , Gerald Shively , Valerien O. Pede , Dela-Dem Doe Fiankor , Jacob Ricker-Gilbert , Prathiba Bist
Public stockholding of food is politically contentious and economically challenging. Although private stocks are generally understood to be more efficient than public stocks at providing a reliable buffer against production shortfalls, private stocks often fail to stabilize prices during extreme food market shocks. Moreover, maintaining large public stock programs in which the government acts as the buyer or seller of last resort, can be very costly. This paper analyzes the recent historical success of public and private rice stocks in stabilizing domestic rice prices in the Philippines, the world’s largest net importer of rice. Relying on competitive storage theory and disaggregated rice stock data, we identify statistically independent global demand, global supply, domestic production and domestic demand shocks using Independent Component Analysis (ICA) in a Structural Vector Autoregression (SVAR) framework. We use monthly retail price data for 2000 to 2024 which allows us to leverage an exogeneous policy shift in stock policy. Using impulse response functions, counterfactual paths and historical decompositions we find that inventories have successfully buffered shocks, yet their relative efficacy has depended upon holder and size. Commercial stocks smooth routine volatility, while modest, rule-based public reserves are indispensable during large food market crises and when domestic production shortfalls coincide with international price hikes. We suggest that a hybrid strategy which combines private working stocks with a modest public reserve program, and which is flexible in terms of budget and procurement regulation, can be a cost-effective tool to dampen food-price volatility.
{"title":"Stocks and shocks: Assessing the relative roles of public and private inventories in buffering rice price volatility in the Philippines","authors":"Bernhard Dalheimer , Kenneth Foster , Gerald Shively , Valerien O. Pede , Dela-Dem Doe Fiankor , Jacob Ricker-Gilbert , Prathiba Bist","doi":"10.1016/j.foodpol.2026.103052","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodpol.2026.103052","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Public stockholding of food is politically contentious and economically challenging. Although private stocks are generally understood to be more efficient than public stocks at providing a reliable buffer against production shortfalls, private stocks often fail to stabilize prices during extreme food market shocks. Moreover, maintaining large public stock programs in which the government acts as the buyer or seller of last resort, can be very costly. This paper analyzes the recent historical success of public and private rice stocks in stabilizing domestic rice prices in the Philippines, the world’s largest net importer of rice. Relying on competitive storage theory and disaggregated rice stock data, we identify statistically independent global demand, global supply, domestic production and domestic demand shocks using Independent Component Analysis (ICA) in a Structural Vector Autoregression (SVAR) framework. We use monthly retail price data for 2000 to 2024 which allows us to leverage an exogeneous policy shift in stock policy. Using impulse response functions, counterfactual paths and historical decompositions we find that inventories have successfully buffered shocks, yet their relative efficacy has depended upon holder and size. Commercial stocks smooth routine volatility, while modest, rule-based public reserves are indispensable during large food market crises and when domestic production shortfalls coincide with international price hikes. We suggest that a hybrid strategy which combines private working stocks with a modest public reserve program, and which is flexible in terms of budget and procurement regulation, can be a cost-effective tool to dampen food-price volatility.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":321,"journal":{"name":"Food Policy","volume":"139 ","pages":"Article 103052"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170195","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-14DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2026.103050
Sara Damavandi , Laura Berardi , Sina Abbasi
Food banks (FBs) play a vital role in food security by recovering surplus food and redistributing it to people who lack reliable access to sufficient nutrition. However, FBs face persistent operational challenges, particularly in balancing supply and demand. This study presents a novel approach to examining blockchain technology (BT) adoption within the food bank supply chain (FBSC) to boost food donation efficiency, enabling real-time inventory tracking, reliability, and strengthening compliance with food safety regulations. We identified the key barriers, categorized them into external and internal dimensions, and analyzed them using a pairwise comparison survey based on insights from academics and experts (N = 21) within the food bank network (FBN). The decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) methodology was used to model and quantify the causal relationships among these barriers. To address subjectivity and ambiguity in expert opinions during group decision-making, rough theory was integrated with DEMATEL, providing a reliable approach to managing conflicting perspectives and uncertainty. Results indicate that the lack of access to technology is the most significant barrier hindering the implementation and growth of blockchain adoption in FBSC. Also, the lack of regulation and legislation related to donated food was assigned the minimum normalized weight, indicating it has the least influence on the system. Further, a lack of government support for implementing BT represents another critical barrier, reflecting the early stage of BT development. The study offers valuable insights to support FBs and policymakers in developing long-term sustainability strategies.
{"title":"Decision support system using rough DEMATEL for evaluating blockchain adoption in food bank supply chain","authors":"Sara Damavandi , Laura Berardi , Sina Abbasi","doi":"10.1016/j.foodpol.2026.103050","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodpol.2026.103050","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Food banks (FBs) play a vital role in food security by recovering surplus food and redistributing it to people who lack reliable access to sufficient nutrition. However, FBs face persistent operational challenges, particularly in balancing supply and demand. This study presents a novel approach to examining blockchain technology (BT) adoption within the food bank supply chain (FBSC) to boost food donation efficiency, enabling real-time inventory tracking, reliability, and strengthening compliance with food safety regulations. We identified the key barriers, categorized them into external and internal dimensions, and analyzed them using a pairwise comparison survey based on insights from academics and experts (N = 21) within the food bank network (FBN). The decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) methodology was used to model and quantify the causal relationships among these barriers. To address subjectivity and ambiguity in expert opinions during group decision-making, rough theory was integrated with DEMATEL, providing a reliable approach to managing conflicting perspectives and uncertainty. Results indicate that the lack of access to technology is the most significant barrier hindering the implementation and growth of blockchain adoption in FBSC. Also, the lack of regulation and legislation related to donated food was assigned the minimum normalized weight, indicating it has the least influence on the system. Further, a lack of government support for implementing BT represents another critical barrier, reflecting the early stage of BT development. The study offers valuable insights to support FBs and policymakers in developing long-term sustainability strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":321,"journal":{"name":"Food Policy","volume":"139 ","pages":"Article 103050"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170259","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-19DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2026.103035
Hangyu Zhang , Yujing Song , Yue Wang , Jikun Huang
Digital technologies hold potential to transform smallholder agriculture, but their impacts on production are not yet well understood. Using original survey data from Chinese maize farmers, we examine the adoption and impacts of Drone Plant Protection (DPP), a rapidly emerging agricultural technology. We find that adoption is associated with both economic and health considerations: DPP is linked to substantially lower operational costs (-29%) and pesticide exposure time (-90%), and suggests a lower incidence of self-reported pesticide-related health symptoms (-83%). Regarding impacts, a two-way fixed-effects model reveals that DPP users’ pesticide application frequency is 33% higher, primarily during post-tasseling stages. Estimating a damage control production function, we show that these behavioral adjustments are associated with a reduction in yield loss by 4.6% and align with farmer profit maximization. However, despite drones’ precision capabilities, per-round pesticide expenditure remains unchanged. Our findings demonstrate digital technologies’ potential to enhance yield at lower health risk while highlighting the need for policy interventions addressing institutional and technological barriers to unlock their environmental benefits.
{"title":"Refining pesticide use to reduce yield loss: How drone plant protection transforms smallholder pest management","authors":"Hangyu Zhang , Yujing Song , Yue Wang , Jikun Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.foodpol.2026.103035","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodpol.2026.103035","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Digital technologies hold potential to transform smallholder agriculture, but their impacts on production are not yet well understood. Using original survey data from Chinese maize farmers, we examine the adoption and impacts of Drone Plant Protection (DPP), a rapidly emerging agricultural technology. We find that adoption is associated with both economic and health considerations: DPP is linked to substantially lower operational costs (-29%) and pesticide exposure time (-90%), and suggests a lower incidence of self-reported pesticide-related health symptoms (-83%). Regarding impacts, a two-way fixed-effects model reveals that DPP users’ pesticide application frequency is 33% higher, primarily during post-tasseling stages. Estimating a damage control production function, we show that these behavioral adjustments are associated with a reduction in yield loss by 4.6% and align with farmer profit maximization. However, despite drones’ precision capabilities, per-round pesticide expenditure remains unchanged. Our findings demonstrate digital technologies’ potential to enhance yield at lower health risk while highlighting the need for policy interventions addressing institutional and technological barriers to unlock their environmental benefits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":321,"journal":{"name":"Food Policy","volume":"139 ","pages":"Article 103035"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146024324","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-12-08DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.103001
Lingling Hou , Na Liu , Pengfei Liu , Xinxin Lv , Saiwei Li
This study investigates the impact of informational interventions on consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for eco-labeled grassland-fed lamb under real-payment and hypothetical contexts. Using the Becker–DeGroot–Marschak (BDM) auction method, we conducted a field experiment with consumers in Beijing, China. On average, consumers were willing to pay a 26% premium for grassland-fed lamb compared with fence-fed lamb, highlighting the perceived value of grassland-based products. We find no significant difference in WTP between real and hypothetical contexts. In the pooled sample, the text treatment emphasizing on donation increased WTP by 1.2 yuan/kg, while the video treatment highlighting product attributes raised WTP by 2 yuan/kg. Treatment effects, however, varied across contexts: the text treatment generated a significant gap between real and hypothetical groups, whereas the video treatment did not. These results demonstrate how eco-labels and tailored information strategies can enhance consumer valuation of ecological products and provide policy-relevant insights for promoting ecosystem services through markets.
{"title":"Information and consequentiality: Evidence from willingness to pay for eco-labelling products based on Becker-Degroot-Marschak mechanism","authors":"Lingling Hou , Na Liu , Pengfei Liu , Xinxin Lv , Saiwei Li","doi":"10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.103001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.103001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the impact of informational interventions on consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for eco-labeled grassland-fed lamb under real-payment and hypothetical contexts. Using the Becker–DeGroot–Marschak (BDM) auction method, we conducted a field experiment with consumers in Beijing, China. On average, consumers were willing to pay a 26% premium for grassland-fed lamb compared with fence-fed lamb, highlighting the perceived value of grassland-based products. We find no significant difference in WTP between real and hypothetical contexts. In the pooled sample, the text treatment emphasizing on donation increased WTP by 1.2 yuan/kg, while the video treatment highlighting product attributes raised WTP by 2 yuan/kg. Treatment effects, however, varied across contexts: the text treatment generated a significant gap between real and hypothetical groups, whereas the video treatment did not. These results demonstrate how eco-labels and tailored information strategies can enhance consumer valuation of ecological products and provide policy-relevant insights for promoting ecosystem services through markets.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":321,"journal":{"name":"Food Policy","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 103001"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145733354","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-11-13DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.102998
Oliver Huse , Navoda Liyana Pathirana , Karan Courtney Haag , Ivan Durgutov , Akkumis Salkhanova , Elmir Valehli , Ana Paula Richter , Ruby Brooks , Clara Gomez-Donoso , Adrian J Cameron , Anna Peeters , Kathryn Backholer
Background
Food retail environments are an important influence over dietary behaviours. Food retail marketing strategies that promote less healthy foods endanger the rights of children to good health. However, limited evidence exists on food retail marketing practices in Europe and Central Asia (ECA). We aimed to describe the online food retail marketing environment in three ECA countries – Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and North Macedonia – and explore retailer perspectives of strategies to improve the healthiness of food retail environments.
Methods
Online food retail marketing environments were assessed using the INFORMAS protocol for monitoring marketing practices for foods and beverages within online grocery stores. Retailers and other key informants (n = 16) were interviewed to understand their perceptions of the barriers and enablers to creating a child rights-friendly food retail (online and in-store) environment in each country.
Results
Online food retail environments are developing at different rates across the three countries. In all three countries, unhealthy foods were more frequently promoted through online marketing strategies compared to healthy products. Retailers showed some willingness and capacity to modify food retail marketing strategies to promote children’s health, however cited challenges including profit-driven business models and dependence on suppliers and manufacturers.
Conclusions
Food retail environments in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and North Macedonia could be modified to better support children’s rights and health. Initial efforts by governments, researchers, NGOs, and UN agencies could focus on co-designing interventions with retailers that align health and profit goals. Government-led regulations may also be necessary to ensure consistent standards across retailers.
{"title":"Marketing strategies used in retail food environments in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and North Macedonia","authors":"Oliver Huse , Navoda Liyana Pathirana , Karan Courtney Haag , Ivan Durgutov , Akkumis Salkhanova , Elmir Valehli , Ana Paula Richter , Ruby Brooks , Clara Gomez-Donoso , Adrian J Cameron , Anna Peeters , Kathryn Backholer","doi":"10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.102998","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.102998","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Food retail environments are an important influence over dietary behaviours. Food retail marketing strategies that promote less healthy foods endanger the rights of children to good health. However, limited evidence exists on food retail marketing practices in Europe and Central Asia (ECA). We aimed to describe the online food retail marketing environment in three ECA countries – Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and North Macedonia – and explore retailer perspectives of strategies to improve the healthiness of food retail environments.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Online food retail marketing environments were assessed using the INFORMAS <em>protocol for monitoring marketing practices for foods and beverages within online grocery stores</em>. Retailers and other key informants (n = 16) were interviewed to understand their perceptions of the barriers and enablers to creating a child rights-friendly food retail (online and in-store) environment in each country.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Online food retail environments are developing at different rates across the three countries. In all three countries, unhealthy foods were more frequently promoted through online marketing strategies compared to healthy products. Retailers showed some willingness and capacity to modify food retail marketing strategies to promote children’s health, however cited challenges including profit-driven business models and dependence on suppliers and manufacturers.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Food retail environments in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and North Macedonia could be modified to better support children’s rights and health. Initial efforts by governments, researchers, NGOs, and UN agencies could focus on co-designing interventions with retailers that align health and profit goals. Government-led regulations may also be necessary to ensure consistent standards across retailers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":321,"journal":{"name":"Food Policy","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 102998"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145517458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-11-19DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.103002
Andrew Walton , Tim Taylor , Alberto Longo , Daniel Derbyshire
Meat consumption has important implications for both human and environmental health, and identifying barriers and opportunities that reduce this dietary preference are a key policy target. Numerous studies suggest men and more masculine individuals exhibit higher attachment to meat, which impacts their willingness to reduce its consumption; however, research exploring gender associations concerning masculinity and femininity is limited. Through a survey of 959 individuals, this study investigates the relationships between gender, masculinity, femininity, and dietary behaviours, including meat consumption and willingness to reduce consumption. A novel measure was introduced to assess gender-related traits independently of gender, enabling the effects of both masculinity and femininity on meat-related dietary behaviours to be explored. Men and women expressed masculinity and femininity across the scale, suggesting that men and women can exhibit different levels of both traits, regardless of gender. Men were more likely to consume meat than women, showing a significant gender association which was reflected in the masculinity and combined masculinity and femininity measures. Men and individuals with higher masculinity and masculinity-femininity scores displayed higher meat-eater identities, were more susceptible to social influence, and exhibited lower awareness or acceptance of health and environmental impacts. Men and higher-scoring masculinity-femininity individuals exhibited lower willingness to reduce meat. This result was not significant for masculinity alone, suggesting that incorporating constructs of both femininity and masculinity into a measure may provide a more nuanced understanding of dietary behaviours and attitudes. Policy makers and health professionals should consider how masculinity and gender might influence the acceptance of interventions which aim to change the prevalence of meat in people’s diets.
{"title":"Understanding the influence of gender, masculinity, and femininity on attitudes and behaviours around meat consumption: Comparison of measures to better inform policy action","authors":"Andrew Walton , Tim Taylor , Alberto Longo , Daniel Derbyshire","doi":"10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.103002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.103002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Meat consumption has important implications for both human and environmental health, and identifying barriers and opportunities that reduce this dietary preference are a key policy target. Numerous studies suggest men and more masculine individuals exhibit higher attachment to meat, which impacts their willingness to reduce its consumption; however, research exploring gender associations concerning masculinity and femininity is limited. Through a survey of 959 individuals, this study investigates the relationships between gender, masculinity, femininity, and dietary behaviours, including meat consumption and willingness to reduce consumption. A novel measure was introduced to assess gender-related traits independently of gender, enabling the effects of both masculinity and femininity on meat-related dietary behaviours to be explored. Men and women expressed masculinity and femininity across the scale, suggesting that men and women can exhibit different levels of both traits, regardless of gender. Men were more likely to consume meat than women, showing a significant gender association which was reflected in the masculinity and combined masculinity and femininity measures. Men and individuals with higher masculinity and masculinity-femininity scores displayed higher meat-eater identities, were more susceptible to social influence, and exhibited lower awareness or acceptance of health and environmental impacts. Men and higher-scoring<!--> <!-->masculinity-femininity individuals exhibited lower willingness to reduce meat. This result was not significant for masculinity alone, suggesting that incorporating constructs of both femininity and masculinity into a measure may provide a more nuanced understanding of dietary behaviours and attitudes. Policy makers and health professionals should consider how masculinity and gender might influence the acceptance of interventions which aim to change the prevalence of meat in people’s diets.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":321,"journal":{"name":"Food Policy","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 103002"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145576697","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Inadequate food environments contribute to the persistence of malnutrition in dynamic dryland areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Developing nutritious, affordable, and culturally acceptable foods from local products offers a promising approach to address this issue. Yet, products developed through research have garnered limited consumer interest. This study aimed to assess the potential for developing nutritious, affordable, and desirable foods with societal actors to improve children’s food environments. We conducted 12 focus group and community sessions were conducted with 100 mothers of children under five and 12 local agri-food processors to select four foods commonly consumed by the community, assess processing practices, and identify local resources to enhance their nutritional value. Improved formulations were developed using Excel’s Solver linear programming tool. Two co-development workshops were held with local processors to test low-cost formulations. Nutritional value and consumer preference were analyzed using ANOVA, Tukey test, and binomial tests at a 95 % confidence level. Results demonstrated the feasibility of enhancing and stabilizing for market the nutritional value of local commonly consumed foods while preserving affordability and taste. Per 100 g serving, the co-developed foods have the potential to provide about 50 % of the Recommended Nutrient Intake for iron, 50 % for zinc, 83 % for protein, and 35 % for vitamin C among children aged 6–12 months. Three improved products were equally preferred to their regular versions. This study provides a practical, context-sensitive framework for improving the nutritional quality of local foods while preserving traditional dietary habits.
{"title":"Toward local nutritious foods for a healthy food environment for children: A community-led food innovation in Benin’s drylands","authors":"Adrien Dogo , Franck Hongbete , Folachodé Akogou , Janvier Kindossi , Paulin Azokpota , Waliou Amoussa Hounkpatin , Honorat Edja","doi":"10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.103004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.103004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Inadequate food environments contribute to the persistence of malnutrition in dynamic dryland areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Developing nutritious, affordable, and culturally acceptable foods from local products offers a promising approach to address this issue. Yet, products developed through research have garnered limited consumer interest. This study aimed to assess the potential for developing nutritious, affordable, and desirable foods with societal actors to improve children’s food environments. We conducted 12 focus group and community sessions were conducted with 100 mothers of children under five and 12 local agri-food processors to select four foods commonly consumed by the community, assess processing practices, and identify local resources to enhance their nutritional value. Improved formulations were developed using Excel’s Solver linear programming tool. Two co-development workshops were held with local processors to test low-cost formulations. Nutritional value and consumer preference were analyzed using ANOVA, Tukey test, and binomial tests at a 95 % confidence level. Results demonstrated the feasibility of enhancing and stabilizing for market the nutritional value of local commonly consumed foods while preserving affordability and taste. Per 100 g serving, the co-developed foods have the potential to provide about 50 % of the Recommended Nutrient Intake for iron, 50 % for zinc, 83 % for protein, and 35 % for vitamin C among children aged 6–12 months. Three improved products were equally preferred to their regular versions. This study provides a practical, context-sensitive framework for improving the nutritional quality of local foods while preserving traditional dietary habits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":321,"journal":{"name":"Food Policy","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 103004"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145576622","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-11-15DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.103003
J.M. Stuber , D. Beeres , S.C. Dijkstra , S.K. Djojosoeparto , H. Forde , M.P. Poelman , F.J. van Lenthe , J.D. Mackenbach
Purpose
This study examined the perspectives of policy officials affiliated with Dutch municipalities exploring advertisement restrictions on unhealthy and unsustainable products in public outdoor spaces.
Methods
In this qualitative study, Dutch municipal policy officials were interviewed in person or online via semi-structured interviews in autumn 2024. Interviews covered the content of proposed restrictions, the municipality’s policy phase, key stakeholders, barriers, facilitators, and policy goals. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Analysis was based on a thematic content analysis.
Results
We interviewed 18 policy officials from 13 Dutch municipalities. They indicated that advertisement restrictions were often initiated by left-wing council members, driven by the combination of a momentum (e.g., commitment to a healthy and green future), a favourable political climate (e.g., demand for restrictions from local political parties), and a policy window (e.g., revising municipality advertisement policies). They indicated that the development, implementation and long-term viability of advertisement restrictions depended on policy consistency (e.g., establishing definitions of products to restrict), managing the risks to policy implementation (e.g., financial losses following reduced advertisement revenue) and practical barriers (e.g., existing tenders). Some policy officials doubted the impact of these restrictions on consumer behaviours, but speculated that their signalling effect could affect public support for similar policies.
Conclusion
Political will, momentum and an opening policy window allowed for the development and sometimes implementation of advertisement restrictions. Future research should explore wider stakeholder support for these policies, how to effectively mitigate perceived risks associated with their implementation, and their long-term impact on consumer behaviours.
{"title":"Exploring Dutch municipal advertising restrictions on unhealthy and unsustainable products","authors":"J.M. Stuber , D. Beeres , S.C. Dijkstra , S.K. Djojosoeparto , H. Forde , M.P. Poelman , F.J. van Lenthe , J.D. Mackenbach","doi":"10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.103003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.103003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>This study examined the perspectives of policy officials affiliated with Dutch municipalities exploring advertisement restrictions on unhealthy and unsustainable products in public outdoor spaces.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this qualitative study, Dutch municipal policy officials were interviewed in person or online via semi-structured interviews in autumn 2024. Interviews covered the content of proposed restrictions, the municipality’s policy phase, key stakeholders, barriers, facilitators, and policy goals. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Analysis was based on a thematic content analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We interviewed 18 policy officials from 13 Dutch municipalities. They indicated that advertisement restrictions were often initiated by left-wing council members, driven by the combination of a momentum (e.g., commitment to a healthy and green future), a favourable political climate (e.g., demand for restrictions from local political parties), and a policy window (e.g., revising municipality advertisement policies). They indicated that the development, implementation and long-term viability of advertisement restrictions depended on policy consistency (e.g., establishing definitions of products to restrict), managing the risks to policy implementation (e.g., financial losses following reduced advertisement revenue) and practical barriers (e.g., existing tenders). Some policy officials doubted the impact of these restrictions on consumer behaviours, but speculated that their signalling effect could affect public support for similar policies.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Political will, momentum and an opening policy window allowed for the development and sometimes implementation of advertisement restrictions. Future research should explore wider stakeholder support for these policies, how to effectively mitigate perceived risks associated with their implementation, and their long-term impact on consumer behaviours.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":321,"journal":{"name":"Food Policy","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 103003"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145517461","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-12-15DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.103024
Eivind Bjørkås, Kyrre Rickertsen
Cross-border shopping of alcoholic beverages reduces domestic sales and tax revenue. We estimate the effects of cross-border shopping on sales of hard liquor and wine in the Norwegian government-owned retail monopoly (Vinmonopolet) by using the travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic as a natural experiment. The effects are identified by using a dynamic difference-in-differences approach comparing changes in sales in stores with different driving times to the nearest foreign alcohol store. A new robust estimation method that addresses weaknesses of the commonly used two-way fixed-effects estimator is used. Cross-border shopping effects are identified within 90 min driving time to the nearest foreign alcohol store. In this area, the increased sales in Vinmonopolet are estimated to be 56 % for wine and 35 % for hard liquor due to unavailability of cross-border shopping. These increases correspond to 5 % and 4 % of national sales, respectively, and correspond to half a billion NOK in increased annual tax revenue.
{"title":"Cross-border shopping of alcoholic beverages: Evidence from a natural experiment","authors":"Eivind Bjørkås, Kyrre Rickertsen","doi":"10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.103024","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.103024","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cross-border shopping of alcoholic beverages reduces domestic sales and tax revenue. We estimate the effects of cross-border shopping on sales of hard liquor and wine in the Norwegian government-owned retail monopoly (Vinmonopolet) by using the travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic as a natural experiment. The effects are identified by using a dynamic difference-in-differences approach comparing changes in sales in stores with different driving times to the nearest foreign alcohol store. A new robust estimation method that addresses weaknesses of the commonly used two-way fixed-effects estimator is used. Cross-border shopping effects are identified within 90 min driving time to the nearest foreign alcohol store. In this area, the increased sales in Vinmonopolet are estimated to be 56 % for wine and 35 % for hard liquor due to unavailability of cross-border shopping. These increases correspond to 5 % and 4 % of national sales, respectively, and correspond to half a billion NOK in increased annual tax revenue.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":321,"journal":{"name":"Food Policy","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 103024"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145786432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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