Business Impact Assessment

The BIA-Obesity (Business Impact Assessment - Obesity and population nutrition) tool has been developed by INFORMAS, a global network of public health researchers that monitors food environments and policies in >30 countries worldwide. The tool consists of a range of indicators across 6 action domains. Indicators are sector-specific and are tailored for the purposes of this project to the European context.

Corporate population nutrition strategy

Company’s overarching commitment to improving population nutrition for reducing obesity and NCDs

Relationships with external organisations

Details of policies related to funding and/or support provided to professional organisations, external research, community groups, nutrition education and active lifestyle programs, government agencies

Production formulation

Policies regarding product development and reformulation, particularly regarding nutrients of concern (salt, saturated fat, trans fat, added sugar)

Product labelling

Disclosure and presentation of nutrient information, including ingredients lists, product labelling, health and nutrition claims and online nutrition information

Product and brand promotion

Policies regarding reducing the exposure of children to unhealthy food promotion

Product accessibility

Policies related to the pricing and affordability of healthy compared to unhealthy products and availability of healthy compared to unhealthy products

The process

These methods were adapted from the Access to Nutrition Index (ATNI) that benchmarks the nutrition-related commitments, performance and disclosure practices of global food and beverage manufacturers.

The project team will work closely with each company to collate relevant policy details related to each indicator, including details at a country-, regional- and global-level as applicable. Input from representatives nominated by each company will assist in identifying the most up to date, accurate and comprehensive information.

The process will result in the development of scorecards for each company to enable comparison at a sector level both nationally and internationally. The project will clearly highlight areas in which companies are demonstrating leadership in the prevention of NCDs, and indicate specific areas for improvement at a company, sector and industry level.

The intention is to repeat this process on a regular basis and thus to track progress over time. Some first findings are expected to become available by 2020, and will be communicated broadly as part of efforts to increase awareness and accountability.