Alignment with the EAT-Lancet Commission 

Ensuring food environments are better aligned with healthy diets links with the first aspect of Strategy One of the 2019 commission, to have concerted efforts from national stakeholders to improve access to healthy diets. 

Progress is evident through research showing governments can shape healthier retail environments. The most effective approaches combine increasing the availability and visibility of fruits and vegetables with reducing the prominent placement of unhealthy foods. Some governments, including England, Wales, and Scotland, are adopting regulations restricting unhealthy product placement, while others limit checkout displays to healthy or non-food items. However, further evidence is needed to support governments in applying both strategies together, alongside sufficient resources and context-specific enforcement, to ensure lasting impact on population diets.

Key actors

• Shoppers who are exposed to the regulation 

• Food retailers, food manufacturers, industry bodies

• Local authorities who hold responsibility for enforcing the regulations 

• Collaborating partners including the University of Southampton, University of Oxford and the Food Foundation

• Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) who made the case for the UK government to bring in regulations to restrict prominent placement of unhealthy foods

• National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), funders of our research projects 

Lessons Learned

A rapid qualitative evaluation with 108 stakeholders from across the food system which was conducted before the regulation was implemented showed that the regulation is seen to be a good first step towards improving food outlet layouts to support healthier food choices. Compliance was good in the first six months of implementation but concerns have been raised about adequate resources for effective enforcement of the regulations across retailers and exploitation of loopholes. Shoppers have been optimistic about the regulations supporting them to make healthier food choices. They wanted to see the regulations coupled with other interventions to reduce the cost of healthy foods relative to unhealthy foods. 

Next steps

• In our ENTHUSE study, we are collecting and analysing data on enforcement and in-store promotional activities, impact on businesses of different types and sizes, impact on purchasing and shopping habits and product reformulation for the regulation in England.

• As part of our ECON study, we are evaluating the regulation’s impact on the convenience store sector, since it only applies to large stores >2000 square feet and with ≥50 employees). We are also examining how the regulation affects dietary inequalities and strategies to improve the availability and promotion of healthy foods in smaller retail outlets.