Ontario Schools’ Readiness for School Food and Beverage Policy Implementation

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Chaleunsouk ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Policy Implementation ◽  
School Food ◽  
Food And Beverage

Successes and Challenges Implementing a “Fresh from the Farm” Fundraising Program in Schools

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Jennifer Buccino ◽  
Leslie Whittington-Carter
Keyword(s):  
Local Food ◽  
Fresh Produce ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable ◽  
School Food ◽  
Financial Model ◽  
High Satisfaction ◽  
Food And Beverage ◽  
Feasible Alternative ◽  
Successes And Challenges

In 2013, 4 partner organizations: Dietitians of Canada (DC); Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association; Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; and Ontario Ministry of Education created “Fresh from the Farm” (FFF), a healthy fundraiser for Ontario Schools. FFF was designed to support the Ontario government’s School Food and Beverage Policy and Local Food Act and to provide a feasible alternative for less healthy fundraising options. This paper outlines the program successes and challenges over the 6 years of DC’s involvement. After 6 years, over 1700 schools successfully participated in FFF and over $2 million has been paid to Ontario farmers for product and distribution. The average participating school has generated $2040 in sales towards their fundraising efforts, equating to 770 kg (1700 lbs) of fresh produce per school. Schools reported high satisfaction with FFF, with over 90% of participating schools enrolling in subsequent years. The main reasons for satisfaction included: easy to implement, profitable, offers a healthy alternative to “traditional” fundraising programs, and provides great value for cost. The main challenges were logistics of sourcing and delivery, higher than anticipated costs that made the financial model less feasible than predicted, and competition from other fundraisers.

scholarly journals Exploring Student Food Behaviour in Relation to Food Retail over the Time of Implementing Ontario’s School Food and Beverage Policy

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (14) ◽  
pp. 2563
Author(s):  
Rhona M. Hanning ◽  
Henry Luan ◽  
Taryn A. Orava ◽  
Renata F. Valaitis ◽  
James K. H. Jung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fast Food ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Urban Region ◽  
Healthy Foods ◽  
School Food ◽  
Food Retail ◽  
Food Outlets ◽  
Food And Beverage ◽  
Fast Food Restaurants ◽  
Access To Food

Background: Canadian provincial policies, like Ontario’s School Food and Beverage Policy (P/PM 150), increasingly mandate standards for food and beverages offered for sale at school. Given concerns regarding students leaving school to purchase less healthy foods, we examined student behaviours and competitive food retail around schools in a large urban region of Southern Ontario. Methods: Using a geographic information system (GIS), we enumerated food outlets (convenience stores, fast-food restaurants, full-service restaurants) within 500, 1000 and 1500 m of all 389 regional schools spanning years of policy implementation. Consenting grade 6–10 students within 31 randomly selected schools completed a web-based 24-h diet recall (WEB-Q) and questionnaire. Results: Food outlet numbers increased over time (p < 0.01); post-policy, within 1000 m, they averaged 27.31 outlets, with a maximum of 65 fast-food restaurants around one school. Of WEB-Q respondents (n = 2075, mean age = 13.4 ± 1.6 years), those who ate lunch at a restaurant/take-out (n = 84, 4%) consumed significantly more energy (978 vs. 760 kcal), sodium (1556 vs. 1173 mg), and sugar (44.3 vs. 40.1 g). Of elementary and secondary school respondents, 22.1% and 52.4% reported ever eating at fast food outlets during school days. Conclusions: Students have easy access to food retail in school neighbourhoods. The higher energy, sodium and sugar of these options present a health risk.

scholarly journals Support for healthy eating at schools according to the comprehensive school health framework: evaluation during the early years of the Ontario School Food and Beverage Policy implementation

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (9) ◽  
pp. 303-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taryn Orava ◽  
Steve Manske ◽  
Rhona Hanning
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Eating ◽  
School Health ◽  
School Nutrition ◽  
Comprehensive School ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Local Context ◽  
School Food ◽  
Comprehensive School Health ◽  
Food And Beverage ◽  
Time Periods

Introduction Provincial, national and international public health agencies recognize the importance of school nutrition policies that help create healthful environments aligned with healthy eating recommendations for youth. School-wide support for healthy living within the pillars of the comprehensive school health (CSH) framework (social and physical environments; teaching and learning; healthy school policy; and partnerships and services) has been positively associated with fostering improvements to student health behaviours. This study used the CSH framework to classify, compare and describe school support for healthy eating during the implementation of the Ontario School Food and Beverage Policy (P/PM 150). Methods We collected data from consenting elementary and secondary schools in a populous region of Ontario in Time I (2012/13) and Time II (2014). Representatives from the schools completed the Healthy School Planner survey and a food environmental scan (FES), which underwent scoring and content analyses. Each school’s support for healthy eating was classified as either “initiation,” “action” or “maintenance” along the Healthy School Continuum in both time periods, and as “high/increased,” “moderate” or “low/decreased” within individual CSH pillars from Time I to Time II. Results Twenty-five school representatives (8 elementary, 17 secondary) participated. Most schools remained in the “action” category (n = 20) across both time periods, with varying levels of support in the CSH pillars. The physical environment was best supported (100% high/increased support) and the social environment was the least (68% low/decreased support). Only two schools achieved the highest rating (maintenance) in Time II. Supports aligned with P/PM 150 were reportedly influenced by administration buy-in, stakeholder support and relevancy to local context. Conclusion Further assistance is required to sustain comprehensive support for healthy eating in Ontario school food environments.

Limited Evidence That Competitive Food and Beverage Practices Affect Adolescent Consumption Behaviors

2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracy C. Vericker
Keyword(s):  
Food Policy ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
School Food ◽  
Intervention Point ◽  
Food And Beverage ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Policy Lever

Childhood obesity is emerging as a considerable public health problem with no clear antidote. The school food environment is a potential intervention point for policy makers, with competitive food and beverage regulation as a possible policy lever. This research examines the link between competitive food and beverage availability in school and adolescent consumption patterns using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-1999. Results from value-added multivariate regression models reveal limited evidence that competitive food policy affects fruit and vegetable consumption. Findings suggest a stronger link between competitive beverage policy and consumption of sweetened beverages for population subgroups.

scholarly journals Identifying opportunities to strengthen school food environments in the Pacific: a case study in Samoa

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica Reeve ◽  
Anne-Marie Thow ◽  
Colin Bell ◽  
Christina Soti-Ulberg ◽  
Gary Sacks
Keyword(s):  
Policy Implementation ◽  
Food Policy ◽  
Policy Science ◽  
School Nutrition ◽  
Food Environments ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
School Food ◽  
Food Policies ◽  
School Food Policy

Abstract Background: Despite global recommendations to prioritise policies that create healthy environments within education institutions, the implementation of effective healthy school food policies has proved challenging for many countries. This study examined the experience of Samoa in introducing a stronger policy to improve the healthiness of school food environments. Our aim was to identify opportunities to strengthen healthy school food policy implementation in Samoa and other comparable contexts. Methods: We used a qualitative case study approach, underpinned by policy science theory. We conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with 30 informants, coupled with analysis of relevant documents, to generate a detailed understanding of the relevant policy implementation processes in Samoa, and the perspectives and capacities of key implementation actors. Data collection and analysis were guided by the Health Policy Analysis Triangle supplemented by other policy theories relevant to policy process. Results: Samoa’s school food policy operationalizes international ‘best practice’ recommendations. We found health policymakers and leaders in Samoa to be strongly committed to improving school food environments. Despite this, there continued to be challenges in ensuring compliance with the school nutrition standards. Key issues that negatively impacted on the policy’s effectiveness were the lack of priority given to school food by stakeholders outside of health, the high prevalence of unhealthy food in the areas immediately surrounding schools, and the high degree of agency exercised by actors in and around the school. We noted several opportunities for policies to be effectively implemented and sustained. Respondents identified community level leaders as potentially pivotal stakeholders, particularly in a context where school governance draws heavily on community representation.Conclusions: Despite previous commitment to the issue, political and community leaders need to be re-engaged to identify the institutional and operational changes required to improve the implementation of healthy school food policies. Strong incentives for compliance and effective enforcement mechanisms are likely to be crucial to success.

Implementer resistance to school food policy: unpacking the paradox

2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (8) ◽  
pp. 1859-1875 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrienne Vanessa Levay ◽  
Gwen E. Chapman ◽  
Barbara Seed
Keyword(s):  
Private School ◽  
Food Policy ◽  
Economic Incentives ◽  
Ethical Perspective ◽  
School Food ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ethics Framework ◽  
Food And Beverage ◽  
Food Policies

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the paradoxical resistance of parent and private school food vendors to the paternalistic nature of school food policies. It develops the hypothesis that resistance, on the basis of them being “paternalistic”, is associated with implementers experiencing ethical breaches that contribute to frustration and low acceptability. This may be leading to accusations of paternalism and non-cooperation.Design/methodology/approachIt takes a deontological perspective and uses Upshur’s (2002) public health ethics framework to explore the potential that parents involved in school fundraising and private school food vendors are experiencing ethical breaches associated with implementation of school food and beverage sales policies in the Canadian context.FindingsUpshur’s (2002) harm principle highlighted how some implementers feel a loss of freedom in how they choose to function, which is perceived to be resulting in lost profits. Parents involved in fundraising activities may experience feelings of coercion. Opting out of fundraising may result in their children’s schools having fewer resources. Smaller private vendors are coerced through economic incentives while being bound by what products are available in the marketplace and the associated costs of items that comply with nutrition standards. Discussion around the reciprocity principle revealed implementers feel they are not adequately supported to implement. Transparency has been questioned where stakeholders report their perspectives are often not equally considered in decision making.Originality/valueThis is the first paper to explore the often cited resistance to the paternalistic nature of school food and beverage environment policies as an implementation barrier. Using a deontological ethical perspective offers an original way to discuss school food policies. This work offers potential leverage points at which policy-makers and practitioners may intervene to improve acceptability and contribute to more effective, consistent implementation.

scholarly journals Identifying opportunities to strengthen school food environments in the Pacific: a case study in Samoa

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica Reeve ◽  
Anne-Marie Thow ◽  
Colin Bell ◽  
Christina Soti-Ulberg
Keyword(s):  
Policy Implementation ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Food Policy ◽  
Policy Science ◽  
Food Environments ◽  
Political Commitment ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
School Food ◽  
School Food Policy

Abstract Background Despite global recommendations to prioritise policies that create healthy environments within education institutions, the implementation of effective healthy school food policies has proved challenging for many countries. This study examined the experience of Samoa in introducing a stronger policy to improve the healthiness of school food environments. Our aim was to identify opportunities to strengthen school food policy implementation in Samoa and other comparable contexts.Methods We used a qualitative case study approach, underpinned by policy science theory. We conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with 30 informants, coupled with analysis of relevant documents, to generate a detailed understanding of the relevant policy implementation processes in Samoa, and the perspectives and capacities of key implementation actors. Data collection and analysis were guided by the Health Policy Analysis Triangle supplemented by other policy theories relevant to policy process.Results Samoa’s school food policy operationalizes international ‘best practice’ recommendations for school food policy, and provides insights into the outcomes resulting from high level political commitment. We found health policymakers and leaders in Samoa to be strongly committed to improving school food environments. Despite this, compliance to the school food policy had continued to face challenges. Key issues that negatively impacted on the policy’s effectiveness were the broader food environment in which schools were surrounded by unhealthy options, the lack of priority by stakeholders outside of health, and the high degree of agency exercised by actors in and around the school. We noted several opportunities for policies to be effectively implemented and sustained. Respondents identified community level leaders as potentially pivotal stakeholders, particularly in a context where school governance draws heavily on community representation.Conclusions The re-engagement of political and community leaders to identify the institutional and operational changes required, including a fully-enforceable accountability mechanism, may be needed to improve and embed effectiveness.

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