What role should the commercial food system play in promoting health through better diet?

Abstract

Key messages • Populations across the globe are highly dependent on commercial food systems for daily nourishment • Commercial food systems rely heavily on high volume sales of foods high in unhealthy ingredients to generate profits and value for shareholders • The commercial food system does not adequately take account of the high costs of its activities for societies, health, or the environment • Profit could be made from a healthier and more sustainable food system, in ways that are consistent with prevention of non-communicable diseases, but whole system change will be needed • Governments need to increase their efforts to catalyse rapid change in commercial food systems, through fiscal and regulatory policies and development of metrics for the health, environmental, and social impacts of food companies