Food Policy Research Articles

Transforming European Food Systems with multi-actor networks and Living Labs through the FoodSHIFT Approach.

Our current global Food System is facing extraordinary challenges in both size and severity, including a rise in unsustainable consumption behaviours, continued environmental degradation, growing food insecurity, and widening social inequalities. A Food System transformation is now both critically important and overwhelmingly complex, requiring nothing less than a complete overhaul of the entire value chain. Everyone is needed: Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with technological solutions, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) with social innovations, researchers with novel methodologies, governments with food policy advancements, professionals with varying expertise, and last but not least, empowered and informed citizens with the ability and resources for better decision-making. Living Labs offer a holistic, place-based approach needed to facilitate multi-actor inputs on various levels, specifically Food System Living Labs (FSLLs) like the ones established as part of the FoodSHIFT 2030 Project. Nine front-runner Food System Living Labs were operationalised alongside a novel framework merging high-level interdisciplinary initiatives with a diverse set of innovative approaches towards more Sustainable Food Systems (SFS). The FoodSHIFT Approach concept was praised by external evaluators for its ground-breaking framework, and the nearly completed project has been listed as a best practice. However, positive applications alone will not ensure a cross-sector European-wide Food System transformation, and the following text offers a critical reflection coupled with experience-based solutions to further improve the FoodSHIFT Approach.

A new food security approach? Continuity and novelty in the European Union’s turn to preparedness

AbstractPreparedness is an anticipatory approach developed in the military and health sectors in response to unforeseen and unforeseeable crises and emergencies. It has recently entered the debate over the resilience and sustainability of European food systems. The paper seeks to shed light on the implications of the European Union's adoption of preparedness in its food security policy, particularly focusing on the preparatory phase and the early activity the European Food Security Crisis Preparedness and Response Mechanism (EFSCM), a consultative body launched by the European Commission in 2021. Through an analysis of documents and meeting minutes, we illustrate how debates on implementing preparedness are influenced by conflicting sociotechnical imaginaries of sustainable food security. Results show that the EU's shift towards preparedness combines elements of continuity and novelty in its food policy. Continuity concerns the acknowledged need to deal with growing turbulence and unpredictability affecting food systems. Novelty involves attempts at building bridges between diverging imaginaries of sustainable food security to address both short-term and long-term challenges to food security. Also new is the shift to a ‘management,’ as opposed to a ‘problem-solving,’ outlook on crisis and emergency.

NGOisation and food sovereignty: unearthing the intricacies of NGO-driven food sovereignty efforts. Insights from Uganda

AbstractIn many places, social movements and organised networks are the primary drivers of mobilisation for food sovereignty. Elsewhere, the concept has been institutionalized and incorporated into national food policy frameworks. However, there is a dearth of knowledge regarding places where food sovereignty efforts are spearheaded by NGOised civil society. This study addresses this gap by examining five Civil Society Organisations promoting food sovereignty in Uganda through qualitative research. Through in-depth interviews, the study explores the implementation, activism, and mobilisation strategies employed by these organisations. The findings reveal that civil society organisations play a significant role in advancing food sovereignty in Uganda. They do so through practical initiatives such as disseminating knowledge, building capacity among smallholder farmers, promoting agroecological practices, and politicizing agricultural development through farmer mobilisation, policy advocacy, and formation of strategic alliances. Nonetheless, the study highlights critical areas for improvement. First, the need for better coordination among CSOs to create synergies that can enhance the impact and sustainability of their efforts. Second, the need to complement non-contentious strategies with more politically assertive actions to address systemic barriers. Finally, the need to forge alliances for FS among rural producers, urban consumers, and other non-farming populations. The main takeaway from these findings is that Food Sovereignty is a dynamic and context-dependent concept, requiring equally flexible strategies to promote it. Therefore, the choice of mobilisation strategies should be carefully adapted to the unique political, cultural, and economic context, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.

Right to Food Policies, Justice and Sovereignty in Nigeria

This study assessed the right to food policies, justice and sovereignty in Nigeria. The main areas of concentration were: introduction, meaning of food policy, some food policies in Nigeria, types of policies, audit of right to food policies in Nigeria, past policy articulations (1900 – 1999), food policy articulation and policy thrust in 2003, food policy legislations, sovereignty of food and agricultural development among many others. The study indicated that food policy is a public declaration that conveys the decisions to pursue a specific course of action aimed at improving food production practices, ensuring output growth and the overall development of the food sector. Some food policies in Nigeria are; food crop production policy, livestock production policy, food commodity storage policy among others. The study identified three types of polices namely; position declaration, policy statements and discussion papers. Past policy articulations are: Timber/non timber policy 1937, food policy 1946 and food policy for the western region 1952. Some policy legislations were identified, namely: adulteration of produce ordinance No.67 of 1917; 29 of 1920, 8th November 1917, Weight and measurements Act No. 32 of 1974 to June 1975 and River Basin Development Authorities Act No.35 of 1st October, 1986. Some inventory of right to food sovereignty strategies in Nigeria includes: Sovereignty strategy formulations, commodity boards, National Accelerated Food Production Project (NAFPP), National Livestock Development Project (NLDP), Operation Feed the Nation (OFN) and Green Revolution among very many others. One major problem of food policy implementation is lack of a well-defined programme. In conclusion, Right to Food Policy, Justice and Sovereignty Implementation means money spent, laws enforced, employees hired, plan of action formulated and carried out successfully for the development of the Nigerian food sub-sector. But the problem with Nigerian food policies is the structure among which is the absence of central coordinating members. Also, the study recommended that there is the need for government to set institutions that will monitor the planning and execution of food polices projects. Key words: Agricultural Development, Food, Justice, Legislations, Nigeria, Policies, Rights, Sovereignty

Demand for milk and milk products in the rural household of Bangladesh: A panel data analysis

Milk is considered an essential source of protein for people of all ages. However, Bangladeshi people, particularly those living in rural areas, tend to consume less milk and milk products than necessary. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the demand for milk and milk products among rural consumers and the factors affecting their consumption habits. The study utilizes balanced panel data from three waves of the Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey: 2011–12, 2015, and 2018–19, collected by the International Food Policy Research Institute. Both the Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) and Fixed Effects Model were employed. The expenditure elasticity for liquid milk, powdered milk, and condensed milk was found to be 1.013, 1.856, and 1.060, respectively, indicating that these products are considered luxury goods in rural Bangladesh. Additionally, powdered milk is more price-sensitive than liquid or condensed milk in these areas. Milk and milk products exhibit a substitutable relationship based on the Slutsky and Cournot cross-price elasticities matrix. Consumption of liquid milk is significantly influenced, either positively or negatively, by several factors, including age, education, family size, ownership of dairy animals, income, expense of food, and year. Furthermore, while the consumption of powdered milk is increasing over time, factors such as family size and livestock ownership negatively impact its consumption. Similarly, the consumption of condensed milk is negatively affected by education and ownership of dairy animals. Based on our study results, we recommend increasing household income through on and off-farm job creation, promoting educational campaigns on the benefits of milk, and supporting livestock ownership to reduce reliance on processed milk products.

Free sugars in the Canadian diet: a research summary and future directions for food policy.

Until recently, most dietary guidelines and related food policies in Canada focused on total sugars, but recent evidence suggests that free sugars are of greater public health concern. Starting in 2017, our research group received federal funding to fill critical gaps related to free sugars and health. In this commentary, we describe our work related to tracking free sugars in the Canadian food supply and simulating the diet and health impacts of product reformulation. We then summarize how our work has influenced policymaking in Canada with examples of our knowledge translation efforts, and provide a future research and policy agenda based on our findings. Overall, there is significant room for Canadian food policies to target free sugars reductions in food and diets to address overconsumption of this nutrient of public health concern.

Artificial intelligence in food and nutrition evidence: The challenges and opportunities based on a convening of content experts

Abstract Science-informed decisions are best guided by the objective synthesis of the totality of evidence around a particular question and assessing its trustworthiness through systematic processes. However, there are major barriers and challenges that limit science-informed food and nutrition policy, practice, and guidance. First, insufficient evidence, primarily due to acquisition cost of generating high-quality data, and the complexity of the diet-disease relationship. Furthermore, the sheer number of systematic reviews needed across the entire agriculture and food value chain, and the cost and time required to conduct them, can delay the translation of science to policy. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers the opportunity: 1) to better understand the complex etiology of diet-related chronic diseases; 2) to bring more precision to our understanding of the variation among individuals in the diet-chronic disease relationship; 3) to provide new types of computed data related to the efficacy and effectiveness of nutrition/food interventions in health promotion; and 4) to automate the generation of systematic reviews that support timely decisions. These advances include the acquisition and synthesis of heterogeneous and multimodal datasets. This perspective summarizes findings from a meeting of experts convened at the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. The purpose of the meeting was to examine the current state and future potential of AI in generating new types of computed data as well as automating the generation of systematic reviews to support evidence-based food and nutrition policy, practice and guidance.

The use of aquatic bioresources as a factor in ensuring Ukraine’s food security: legal aspects

The article is dedicated to the study of the legal aspects of using aquatic bioresources in Ukraine and the impact of their usage on ensuring the country’s food security. It is argued that the issue of proper legal regulation of the use of aquatic bioresources is becoming increasingly relevant today. Attention is given to both legislative and scientific approaches to the issue of legal regulation of Ukraine’s food security. The necessity of adopting a separate law titled «On the Fundamentals of Food Security of Ukraine» is emphasized. It is noted that the state’s food policy should aim for the highest degree of self-sufficiency, as the quality and quantity of consumed food products directly impact the nation’s health, life expectancy, work capacity, and intellectual potential. The article examines the legal grounds for the usage of aquatic bioresources. The impact of the fishing industry on ensuring Ukraine’s food security is analyzed, with the conclusion drawn that the country’s food security largely depends on the state of aquatic bioresource usage. The level of fish consumption and its processed products serves as an indicator of the population’s food security, which should be maintained at a level conducive to physiological needs. It is stressed that the development of the fishing industry is one of the most important tasks for ensuring the post-war recovery of the country. The article identifies aquatic bioresources as a strategic state food reserve in the current context. The artificial reproduction of valuable fish species is aimed at both supporting aquatic ecosystems and building industrial stocks. The author asserts that today, food security is a condition for maintaining the state’s sovereignty, supporting high levels of public health, and developing the country’s economy. Emphasis is placed on the fact that the use of aquatic bioresources is crucial for the country in terms of ensuring food security, improving economic conditions, saturating the domestic market with quality food products, increasing employment and welfare, as well as preserving biodiversity and effectively using water and hydrobiological resources.

Children’s self-reported exposure to sugary beverage advertisements and association with intake across six countries before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a repeat cross-sectional study

BackgroundChildren’s exposure to sugary beverage advertising may have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic due to shifts in media habits, which could subsequently have influenced intake. This study aimed to examine: 1) children’s frequency and setting of exposure to advertisements of sugary beverages in six countries before and during the COVID-19 pandemic; 2) the association between exposure to sugary beverage advertisements and intake.MethodsChildren aged 10–17 years (n = 28,908) in Australia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US) completed online surveys in 2019, 2020 and 2021 as part of the International Food Policy Study using a repeat cross-sectional study design. Respondents self-reported frequency and setting of exposure to sugary beverage advertisements, location of school classes (in-person/online, 2020–2021 only), screen time, and sugary beverage intake. Adjusted weighted logistic and negative binomial regression models stratified by country examined associations between year and reported sugary beverage advertising exposure, and associations between sugary beverage advertising exposure and intake. Differences in reported advertising exposure between students taking online or in-person school classes were explored.ResultsSelf-reported exposure to advertisements for sugary beverages at least weekly was relatively stable across years within countries, with differences in settings of exposure. Exposure to sugary beverage advertisements increased on digital media independently of screen time from 2019 to 2021 in Australia, Canada, the UK and US, with a concomitant decrease in exposure in retail settings in all countries except the UK. In Australia and the UK, children attending all classes online were more likely to report at least weekly (vs less than once a week) exposure to sugary beverage advertisements, and children attending all classes online were more likely to report exposure to advertisements on digital media and in other settings (e.g., billboard, magazines) compared to children attending in-person classes in Australia, Canada and the UK. Exposure to sugary beverage advertisements at least weekly (IRR = 1.12,99%CI:1.09–1.15) and in each of the settings was associated with sugary beverage intake.ConclusionsExposure to digital advertisements for sugary beverages increased from 2019 to 2021 in most countries, and exposure was associated with sugary beverage intake. Reducing children’s exposure to advertising of less healthy foods, including on digital media, may reduce sugary beverage intake.

The hidden climate cost: Food loss, waste, and greenhouse gas emissions

The hidden climate cost: Food loss, waste, and greenhouse gas emissions Professor Gordon Price from Dalhousie University and Professor Grant Clark from McGill University study the hidden climate change costs of food loss and waste in Canada. Here, they highlight the need for greater cooperation and data sharing. What connects a meal left uneaten, crops left to rot in the field, and spoiled produce buried in a landfill? They all contribute to the more than one billion tonnes of food that is lost or wasted globally every year (UNEP, 2024). Food loss and waste (FLW) is an important source of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and consequently a driver of climate change. The intertwined relationship between food policy, production, and consumption requires that government, industry, and consumers take immediate and collective action to reduce FLW and its environmental impact.

Geostrategic dimensions of recent food policy decisions

AbstractThis article analyzes the geostrategic dimensions in food policy responses to two recent global shocks: the Corona‐SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic and the Russian war against Ukraine. The analysis adds to the general assessments of economic security by providing a case study of food policy and food security as an element of economic security. Strong national path dependent trajectories in food policies can be observed. However, geostrategic dimensions related to interstate interaction and political considerations in policymaking that go beyond food security are also observed.

Slow and steady—small, but insufficient, changes in food and drink availability after four years of implementing a healthy food policy in New Zealand hospitals

BackgroundA voluntary National Healthy Food and Drink Policy (the Policy) was introduced in public hospitals in New Zealand in 2016. This study assessed the changes in implementation of the Policy and its impact on providing healthier food and drinks for staff and visitors in four district health boards between 1 and 5 years after the initial Policy introduction.MethodsRepeat, cross-sectional audits were undertaken at the same eight sites in four district health boards between April and August 2017 and again between January and September 2021. In 2017, there were 74 retail settings audited (and 99 in 2021), comprising 27 (34 in 2021) serviced food outlets and 47 (65 in 2021) vending machines. The Policy’s traffic light criteria were used to classify 2652 items in 2017 and 3928 items in 2021. The primary outcome was alignment with the Policy guidance on the proportions of red, amber and green foods and drinks (≥ 55% green ‘healthy’ items and 0% red ‘unhealthy’ items).ResultsThe distribution of the classification of items as red, amber and green changed from 2017 to 2021 (p < 0.001) overall and in serviced food outlets (p < 0.001) and vending machines (p < 0.001). In 2021, green items were a higher proportion of available items (20.7%, n = 815) compared to 2017 (14.0%, n = 371), as were amber items (49.8%, n = 1957) compared to 2017 (29.2%, n = 775). Fewer items were classified as red in 2021 (29.4%, n = 1156) than in 2017 (56.8%, n = 1506). Mixed dishes were the most prevalent green items in both years, representing 11.4% (n = 446) of all items in 2021 and 5.5% (n = 145) in 2017. Fewer red packaged snacks (11.6%, n = 457 vs 22.5%, n = 598) and red cold drinks (5.2%, n = 205 vs 12.5%, n = 331) were available in 2021 compared to 2017. However, at either time, no organisation or setting met the criteria for alignment with the Policy (≥ 55% green items, 0% red items).ConclusionsIntroduction of the Policy improved the relative healthiness of food and drinks available, but the proportion of red items remained high. More dedicated support is required to fully implement the Policy.

Political Economy of Agriculture and Food Policy in Africa

This article reviews the literature on the political economy of agricultural and food policy in sub-Saharan Africa. In doing so, it first presents a conceptual framework highlighting that agricultural and food policy decisions are contingent on the intersection between governance structures, the preferences and pressures from societal interest groups, and international dynamics. The interrelations among these three factors are then examined across several different sets of policy instruments that have been the focus of traditional political economy research in the region: trade, tax, and marketing policies; public investments and regulations; input and food subsidies; and cross-cutting policies for value chain development. Recognizing several broader demographic, technology, and governance transitions in the region, the article also highlights key areas for future analysis that examine the role of cities in food policy, the possibilities presented by expanded mobile phone and Internet access, and the efficacy of new public administration modalities for policy implementation.

The Water, Food, and Energy Nexus: The Inclusive Roles of Governance and Finance in South Asia

ABSTRACTThis research aims to identify the intricate connections arising from finance and governance to water, food, and energy, utilizing data from 2000 to 2021 for eight South Asian countries. To address cross‐sectional dependence and panel heterogeneity, this study applied an augmented mean group (AMG) approach to discover long‐term connections across the chosen indicators. The estimators' outcome shows interconnectedness across water, food, and energy (WFE) resources, showing that water promotes food and energy, and food promotes water and energy. In contrast, energy fosters food production and reduces water availability. Further, governance positively influences food production (0.434%), water (0.044%), and energy consumption (0.142%). Likewise, finance positively and significantly responds to WFE consumption. Our results highlighted that governance unilaterally influences energy dynamics while bidirectional causal links emerge between finance, food, and energy. The obtained outcomes are re‐validated with feasible generalized least square (FGLS) and Driscoll and Kraay (DK) estimators. Ultimately, our study offers valuable insights for shaping economic, environmental, and food and water security policies in the region and beyond.

Who is consuming ultra-processed food in Canada? A cross-sectional analysis of the 2018/2019 International Food Policy Study.

High consumption of ultra-processed foods and drinks (UPF) has been linked to poor diet quality and an increased risk of non-communicable diseases. To inform public policies and interventions aimed at reducing UPF intake in Canada, updated information on UPF intake among different sociodemographic groups is needed. This study, using data from 5,872 adults aged 18 years and older from the International Food Policy Study (2018-2019), aims to estimate the dietary energy contribution of UPF and assess its variation among sociodemographic subgroups. All foods and drinks reported in a single 24-hour dietary recall were classified using the Nova system. We estimated the mean proportion of total daily energy from UPF and subcategories of UPF in the overall sample and among sociodemographic subgroups. Multivariable linear regression models evaluated the association between sociodemographic characteristics with the proportion of total daily energy from UPF. On average, adults consumed 45.2% of their total daily energy from UPF. UPF consumption was slightly higher among males than females (49.4% vs. 47.6%, p=0.039) and younger adults aged 19-30 years compared with older adults aged 51-64 years (50.0% vs. 47.2%, p=0.029), adjusting for a range of sociodemographic factors. Overall, UPF consumption was relatively high among adults in all sociodemographic subgroups, highlighting the need for policies to decrease UPF consumption in the entire population.

Towards Sustainable and Sufficient City Region Food Systems: Reflections from the Case Study of Turin, Italy

The City Region Food System (CRFS) approach has emerged in recent years as a framework for shaping urban food governance and policies that overcome the methodological cityism of approaches limited to urban territories defined by administrative boundaries. This article critically analyses the concept referring to the case study of the metropolitan city of Turin, Italy, as part of action research contributing to ongoing efforts to establish food policies. The discussion focuses on three dimensions: (1) the spatial definition of the city region; (2) the relation between the support of short and the re-assessment of long supply chains, with reference to a relational understanding of space; (3) the tensions between the CRFS as an analytical concept and a transformative framework. Results suggest that there is no linear path to define the spatial limits for a CRFS analysis and that a pragmatic approach can best serve policies; that long supply chains should not be ignored but integrated into local food policies; that there are contradictions in the transformative dimension of the CRFS literature when investigating the underlying sustainable development framework from a growth-critical perspective; and that separating the analytical more clearly from the normative dimension could make the discussion more productive.

Climate change undermines seafood micronutrient supply from wild-capture fisheries in Southeast Asia and Pacific Island countries

Marine ecosystem functions are affected by climate change impacts such as ocean warming, deoxygenation and acidification. These impacts drive changes in distributions and body size of fish species and directly affect fisheries. Wild-capture fisheries are crucial for providing nutrients, livelihoods, and employment in tropical Southeast Asia and Pacific Island countries, where coastal communities are highly vulnerable to climate change. We examined the impacts of climate change on fish stocks and nutrient availability of seven key micronutrients (calcium, Omega-3 fatty acids, iodine, iron, vitamin A, vitamin B12 and zinc) in Southeast Asia, Pacific Islands, and Oceania (Australia and New Zealand). We combined micronutrient demands by local human populations with Sea Around Us reconstructed catch time series and catch projections from a dynamic bioclimate envelope model for the 21st century. The model predicted a decline in the Maximum Catch Potential (MCP) within Exclusive Economic Zones for Oceania, Pacific Islands, and Southeast Asian countries. Under the ‘strong mitigation’ scenario, catch potential reductions ranged from a decline of 54–66 % in Oceania, 58–92 % in Pacific Islands, and 65–86 % in Southeast Asia by the mid to the end of the 21st century relative to the historical period, respectively. Under the ‘no-mitigation’ climate scenario, reductions were more severe, with a decline of 55–70 % in Oceania, 66–92 % in Pacific Islands, and 70–86 % in Southeast Asia for the same time periods. Our findings indicate that Australia and New Zealand are unlikely to meet the recommended nutrient intake demand for most micronutrients through their fisheries (not considering trade or aquaculture production), except for iodine and vitamin B12. Pacific Island countries will likely follow the same pattern while Southeast Asia is expected to face worsening deficits, except for iodine and vitamin B12. This study highlights the importance of incorporating nutritional considerations of seafood into national food, trade and economic policies.

Consumer support for restrictive policies on unhealthy food and beverage delivery via drones.

Drone delivery services are set to increase unhealthy food and alcohol accessibility. The aim of this study was to evaluate public receptiveness to various options for regulating drone food and beverage deliveries and to identify sociodemographic differences in receptiveness. In total, 1079 adults were surveyed to assess total support and differences in support between population subgroups (e.g.age, sex, location, existing habits) for nine potential drone policies covering curfews, quotas, and product bans. Support was measured on five-point agreement scales, with mean individual policy support (M) and grand mean support calculated for all assessed policies (grand M). There was moderate support for all assessed policies (grand M=3.5), ranging from M=3.2 (drone delivery quotas for shopping centres and dwellings) to M=3.7 (night curfews, airspace quotas). Factors associated with policy support were older age, metropolitan residenceand using grocery delivery services. Public support exists for policies designed to restrict drone food and beverage deliveries. Drone food and beverage delivery policies will likely be supported by the public and could assist in controlling the accessibility of such products for the benefit of population dietary health.

Environmental impact of dietary patterns in 10 European countries; a cross-sectional analysis of nationally representative dietary surveys.

Changing dietary patterns is essential to reducing the substantial environment impact of agriculture and food production systems. We performed a cross-country comparison of dietary patterns and their associated environmental impact in Europe, including by sociodemographic factors. We analyzed pooled cross-sectional dietary records collected during 2010-18 from 10 European countries using the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Comprehensive European Food Database (16 508 adults; aged 18-79 years). Each food consumed was mapped to the corresponding environmental impact data using the SHARP Indicators Database, which provides greenhouse gas emission (GHGE) and land use (LU) values of approximately 900 foods. Total diet-associated environmental impact was calculated for each person and averaged across multiple days. Multivariable linear regression models were used to compare diet-associated GHGE and LU between population subgroups (gender, age, education and diet type) with country-level fixed effects. The mean dietary GHGE and LU per capita ranged from 4.0 kgCO2/day and 5.0 m2*year/day in Spain to 6.5 kgCO2eq/day and 8.2 m2*year/day in France. Diet-related GHGE and LU (per kg/food) were lower among females (2.6 kgCO2eq/day, B = -0.08, P < 0.01; 3.2 m2*year/day, B = -0.11, P < 0.01), older population aged 66-79 (2.6 kgCO2eq/day, B = -0.03, P < 0.01; 3.4 m2*year/day, B = -0.4, P < 0.01), people following vegetarian diets (1.7 kgCO2eq/day, B = -0.07, P < 0.01; 2.0 m2*year/day, B = -0.07, P < 0.01), and higher among individuals with secondary education (2.7 kgCO2eq/day, B = 0.05, P < 0.01; 3.6 m2*year/day, B = -0.05, P < 0.01). Environmental footprints vary substantially across countries, dietary patterns and between different sociodemographic groups in Europe. These findings are crucial for the development of country-specific food policies aimed at promoting environmentally sustainable diets.

A Multidisciplinary Prospective Audit of Practices of Providing Hydration to Patient in An Acute Care Setting. Stop, Think and Drink

Abstract Background In the Dementia Friendly Hospital Guidelines 2018, it recommends we support patient safety, health and well-being. This can be facilitated by supporting diet, nutrition and hydration in a calm, accessible and usable space with appropriate lighting, and clearly visible and easily understood furniture and tableware. We have audited our practices across the hospital to ensure we have practices that promote hydration in all our wards. As we are an MDT team we bring a unique broad perspective on the issue of availability, accessibility and assistance. Methods We prospectively audited the provision and accessibility of drinks of any kind across our hospital. This was carried out on two separate occasions, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. We developed a unique audit tool. We used the HIQA nutrition and hydration standards to develop this tool. This was carried out on two separate occasions, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Results Total number audited - 131 Availability Accessibility Assistance - 38% required prompting/reminding to drink. Conclusion Almost all of our patients in St. Michael’s Hospital had a drink and water jug available, however not all patients were able to access or independently hydrate themselves. Through making improvements, we aim to improve the hydration for our patients. According to the Food, Nutrition and Hydration policy for adults in acute hospital, by improving patient hydration, we are supporting the reduction of malnutrition amongst our patient cohort, in turn reducing their susceptibility to disease and improving their rate of recovery.