Public procurement : a policy tool to promote healthier food environments and choices

Abstract

Across the world, a multitude of efforts are being undertaken to steer the food environment towards facilitating healthier dietary choices. This paper utilizes public procurement as a powerful policy tool for the promotion of healthier food choices. In the European Union (EU), for example, Member States have developed a framework for initiatives on selected nutrients — mainly salt, sugars and fat — and, together with several food business operators and nongovernmental organizations, have committed to a roadmap for action on food product improvement. We argue that the public procurement of food and food services can further incentivize food reformulation and encourage those involved in the procurement process to consider health alongside economic, social and environmental aspects. Given the number of recipients of food and food services procured, from school children to public service employees to food bank clients, the benefits are likely to be far-reaching. EU public procurement directives offer substantial scope for health considerations while stimulating innovation. Building appropriate monitoring and evaluation efforts into the process will allow for the demonstration of widespread benefits and value for money of successful public procurement of food for health. It is time to use the power of the public purse to innovate our food environment for better health for all.