This document discusses food policy and practice in Ireland. It covers three key points: 1. Food poverty and health inequalities exist in Ireland, with disadvantaged groups eating less nutritious foods and having higher rates of diet-related diseases like diabetes. 2. Recent Irish food policy developments include proposals for a sugar-sweetened beverage tax and requiring calorie labeling in restaurants. However, these policies face opposition from industry. 3. Collaboration between policymakers and practitioners is important, such as through the All Island Obesity Action Forum, which brings together government, industry, NGOs and practitioners to address these issues.

1. Food Policy in
Practice
Cliodhna Foley-Nolan,
May2013.

2. Food Policy-Practice Translation!!!
In theory, practice is simple
Beware… I have proved it correct,
not tried it…

3. Food Policy + Practice

4. Programme for Government
2011-’16
Modern, fair, socially inclusive
and equal society
Agriculture
Trade
Social protection
Health
Transport
Finance

5. 1. Food poverty-health inequalities
2.Recent policy developments
3.All island collaboration (AIOAF)

6. Food Poverty
“the inability to access an adequate quality or
sufficient quantity of food in socially acceptable
ways, or the uncertainty that one will be able to
do so” Riches 1997.
“the poorer people are, the worse their diet and
the more diet related disease they suffer”
Faculty Public Health UK

7. ‘Penny dinners’

8. Eat less well
Mean intakes Food Groups disadvantaged
and advantaged women
Food Group Median Intake (g/day)
Disadvantaged Advantaged
Fruit and Vegetables 172 405
Breakfast Cereals 4 29
Sweet foods and
Confectionary
67 64
Dairy Products 166 228
HFFA 2009

9. Eat less nutritious food
Socio-economic differences in energy,
fibre and macronutrient intakes
Recommended
Daily Intake
Disadvantaged Advantaged
Energy ~2000kCals/day 2329 1978
Dietary Fibre >25g/day 10.1 12.6
Total Fat <33% Total
Energy
35.3 30.7
Saturated Fat <10% Total
Energy
13.9 11.6
Safefood/DCU

10. Relative prices:

11. Planning +Transport

12. Health Burden
50% CHD deaths
33% Cancer deaths
Low birth weight and Macrosomia
Depression- dementia
…

13. Associated-Diabetes rates
Population prevalence rates of diabetes; across deprivation bands in
Northern Ireland within age group (2007)
IPH

14. Overweight

15. Sociodemographic Distribution of
Overweight and Obesity
BMI
Self-reported
BMI
Measured
N=9,735 N=2,170
Overweight Obese Overweight Obese
GENDER (%) (%) (%) (%)
Men 43 15 45 22
Women 29 12 32 24
AGE GROUP
18-29 23 6 27 11
30-44 37 15 39 22
45-64 44 19 45 32
65+ 40 14 41 30
SOCIAL CLASS
SC 1-2 39 13 40 22
SC 3-4 36 14 37 24
SC 5-6 36 17 42 29
Slan

16. Children’s growth/development:

17. Food Deprivation~ 17% children

18. Safefood: Food Poverty
Public Policy- HFFA; SAGO Obesity;
Campaigns-Focus testing; Health literacy
Research –early school leavers
Existing channels-Resource centres,
Youthreach etc.
Initiatives-Community Food Initiatives;
Food Banking

19. Research Insights:
“Yeah well I’m not thinking long
term, I’m just trying to get by, day by
day”
“Rent, heat and electric come first…”

20. Food deprivation: 2003-10(composite index)

21. Primary and Secondary Schools

23. Community Food Initiatives
Cafes
Gardens
Classes
Social Capital
Little steps
+Weigh2live+ Stop
the Spread

24. Recent food policy developments:

25. Food and Health Policies…
<10% cals-Sat fat
<1% cals-Trans fats
<15% cals-free sugars
>400g fruit & veg
<5g salt
National, EU,Global

26. Dietary Policy Options
Eliminate choice
Restrict choice
Disincentives (tax)
Incentives (subsidies)
Change default option (reformulate)
Enable choice/Provide information
Do nothing
Nuffield Council Bioethics

27. Sugar Sweetened Drinks Tax

28. SSB Tax Proposal:
DOHC agenda Autumn 2011
Opposition: “regressive”, outcome
unpredictable, blunt instrument
?level of effectiveness
Issues: level of tax, ring fence tax take,
jobs and industry loss
HIA report, November 2012

29. Food Behaviour focus:
Practical cooking Shopping

30. Calories on Food Chain menus
25% cals eaten ,produced out of home(NANS
2010)
US: Reduction 152 cals hamburger joints,72cals
sandwich bars (female, educated)
Opposition =Catering industry
Calorie Calculator (SAGO)

31. Collaboration: Policy makers + Practitioners

32. Allisland Obesity ACTION forum
30 members
(Govt, Industry,
NGOs,
Practitioners)
2/year
Meeting
+Workshop

33. Food Policy and Practice counts!