11 research outputs found
Risk–benefit assessment of foods and its role to inform policy decisions:outcome of an international workshop
No full textPolicy decisions in public health require consideration and evaluation of trade-offs for which transparency and science-based evidence is needed. Improvement of decision-support tools is essential to help guide food policy decisions that promote healthy diets and meet the challenges of food systems without compromising food security, food safety, and sovereignty. Risk–benefit assessment of foods (RBA) is an established methodological approach designed to inform policy decisions within the area of nutrition and food safety. Despite methodological developments, translation of RBA findings into policies is still limited. In this context, a stakeholder workshop held in May 2023 gathered RBA experts and food regulators from Europe to identify the challenges, obstacles and opportunities in using evidence generated through RBAs to inform food policy decisions. A structured process was implemented to collect their views through online surveys, breakout groups, and plenary discussions. As a secondary objective, food regulators’ views on other approaches for holistic risk assessment fit for food systems analysis were also explored. This paper summarizes the main findings of the workshop and discusses policy implications and future perspectives to improve the area of RBA and its role in food policymaking
The Health Impact of Substituting Red Meat by Lentils:A Risk-Benefit Case Study in France
No full textÉvaluation de l'impact sanitaire et analyse coûts-bénéfices : exploration des complémentarités des méthodes d'évaluation des impacts des réglementations sur la consommation alimentaire
No full textInternational audienceThis paper proposes an interdisciplinary framework that combines different methodologies to measure the risks and benefits related to dietary patterns and to assess the impact of possible regulations influencing food consumption. First, we briefly review the relevant methodologies within the field of health-economics. Based on the gaps identified in this review, we proposed a framework allowing an integrated application of quantitative health impact assessment (HIA) using disability‒adjusted life year (DALY) and cost‒benefit analysis (CBA) calibrated with measures capturing consumers preferences, such as willingness to pay (WTP) and purchase intent (PI). We applied the framework to a case study focusing on the lentil market to test the feasibility of the methodology and we discuss options for model extensions and their limits. We estimated annual DALYs attributable to an increase in the consumption of lentils (scenarios with or without food substitutions), and measured welfare variations and the impact of regulatory instruments, such as subsidies and taxes. Results showed that a hypothetical increase of 30% or more in the consumption of lentils would not be socially accepted as an immediate market reaction, even if lentils are considered a food substitute to reduce the consumption of unprocessed red meat. Our framework is useful to streamline regulatory interventions as it supports the evaluation of impacts of various regulatory instruments, relevant for policies governing consumers’ awareness or impacting consumers’ choice via incentives. Furthermore, it provides a starting point for further interdisciplinary discussions on holistic assessment supporting food systems change.Cet article propose un cadre interdisciplinaire combinant différentes méthodologies pour mesurer les risques et les bénéfices liés aux habitudes alimentaires, et évaluer l'impact d'éventuelles réglementations influençant la consommation alimentaire. Nous passons d'abord brièvement en revue les méthodologies pertinentes dans le domaine de l'économie de la santé. Sur la base des lacunes identifiées lors de cette revue, nous avons proposé un cadre permettant une application intégrée de l'évaluation quantitative de l'impact sur la santé à l'aide des années de vie corrigées de l'incapacité (DALY pour disability‒adjusted life year) et de l'analyse coûts-bénéfices (ACB), calibrées avec des mesures capturant les préférences des consommateurs, telles que la disposition à payer (DAP) et l'intention d'achat (IA). Nous avons appliqué ce cadre à une étude de cas portant sur le marché des lentilles afin de tester la faisabilité de la méthodologie et nous discutons des options d'extension du modèle et de leurs limites. Nous avons estimé les DALYs annuelles attribuables à une augmentation de la consommation de lentilles (scénarios avec ou sans substitutions alimentaires), et nous avons mesuré les variations de bien-être et l'impact des instruments réglementaires, tels que les subventions et les taxes. Les résultats montrent qu'une augmentation hypothétique de 30 % ou plus de la consommation de lentilles ne serait pas socialement acceptée comme une réaction immédiate du marché, même si les lentilles sont considérées comme un substitut alimentaire pour réduire la consommation de viande rouge non transformée. Notre cadre est utile pour rationaliser les interventions réglementaires, car il facilite l'évaluation des impacts de divers instruments réglementaires, pertinents pour les politiques de sensibilisation des consommateurs ou influençant leurs choix par le biais d'incitations. De plus, il constitue un point de départ pour de nouvelles discussions interdisciplinaires sur l'évaluation des changements des systèmes alimentaires
Translating risk-benefit assessment evidence for policy making: outcomes of an international workshop
No full textInternational audienc
Health impact assessment of future maize consumption scenarios in Europe: a risk-benefit case study
No full textInternational audienc
Sustainable diet pattern definitions and their associated quantitative health impacts:A systematic scoping review
No full textHolistic risk assessments of food systems
No full textFood systems are composed of interrelated activities that transform agricultural products into food. Their operations need to meet several food security, food safety, and sustainability requirements. Therefore, risk assessment of food systems must be multidisciplinary and include food safety, nutrition, environmental, economics, and social criteria. However, combining these criteria to assess multiple impacts remains a challenge in complex and multi-stakeholder systems. Until now, only a few holistic assessments, whether domain-oriented or generic and with different levels of quantification, have covered all criteria and the whole food systems. We reviewed and presented the various assessment methods and their applications in food systems, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages. Recommendations were made for a tiered approach combining different holistic assessment methods
Dietary exposure to food azo-colours in a sample of pre-school children from Southern Brazil
No full textThe dietary exposure of six food azo-colours was assessed in a sample of pre-schoolers from Guaratuba-Paraná, Brazil. Consumption data of 323 children aged 2 to 5 years was collected through 3-day food records. Dietary exposure, is expressed by milligrams of food colour by kilogram of body weight per day, as compared to the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI). Three exposure scenarios were developed to account for uncertainties around consumption estimates. Intakes of Amaranth (INS 123) described in means, 50th and 95th percentiles exceeded ADI levels in the two most conservative scenarios, with the highest percentiles exceeding about four times the ADI. High intakes of Sunset Yellow FCF (INS 110) were also observed, of up to 85% of the ADI in the worst-case scenario. Findings suggest high exposure levels to azo-dyes in the survey population, with children likely exceeding the ADI for Amaranth (INS 123) and concerns for Sunset Yellow FCF (INS 110). Major food contributors were beverages (juice powders and soft drinks), dairy and sweets. Further studies on dietary exposure assessment are needed at the national level. The authors highlight the need of controlling the use of such additives through national policies that are aligned with the consumption patterns observed in the country.</p
