Systematic examination of publicly-available information reveals the diverse and extensive corporate political activity of the food industry in Australia
Abstract Background The political influence of the food industry, referred to as corporate political activity (CPA), represents a potential barrier to the development and implementation of effective public health policies for non-communicable diseases prevention. This paper reports on the feasibilit...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2016-03-01
|
| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-016-2955-7 |
| _version_ | 1818290189145997312 |
|---|---|
| author | Melissa Mialon Boyd Swinburn Steven Allender Gary Sacks |
| author_facet | Melissa Mialon Boyd Swinburn Steven Allender Gary Sacks |
| author_sort | Melissa Mialon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The political influence of the food industry, referred to as corporate political activity (CPA), represents a potential barrier to the development and implementation of effective public health policies for non-communicable diseases prevention. This paper reports on the feasibility and limitations of using publicly-available information to identify and monitor the CPA of the food industry in Australia. Methods A systematic search was conducted for information from food industry, government and other publicly-available data sources in Australia. Data was collected in relation to five key food industry actors: the Australian Food and Grocery Council; Coca Cola; McDonald’s; Nestle; and Woolworths, for the period January 2012 to February 2015. Data analysis was guided by an existing framework for classifying CPA strategies of the food industry. Results The selected food industry actors used multiple CPA strategies, with ‘information and messaging’ and ‘constituency building’ strategies most prominent. Conclusions The systematic analysis of publicly-available information over a limited period was able to identify diverse and extensive CPA strategies of the food industry in Australia. This approach can contribute to accountability mechanisms for NCD prevention. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T02:24:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6b033d4fd6b549c5b43709386793c052 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T02:24:13Z |
| publishDate | 2016-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-6b033d4fd6b549c5b43709386793c0522022-12-22T00:02:42ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582016-03-0116111310.1186/s12889-016-2955-7Systematic examination of publicly-available information reveals the diverse and extensive corporate political activity of the food industry in AustraliaMelissa Mialon0Boyd Swinburn1Steven Allender2Gary Sacks3World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, Deakin UniversityWorld Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, Deakin UniversityWorld Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, Deakin UniversityWorld Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, Deakin UniversityAbstract Background The political influence of the food industry, referred to as corporate political activity (CPA), represents a potential barrier to the development and implementation of effective public health policies for non-communicable diseases prevention. This paper reports on the feasibility and limitations of using publicly-available information to identify and monitor the CPA of the food industry in Australia. Methods A systematic search was conducted for information from food industry, government and other publicly-available data sources in Australia. Data was collected in relation to five key food industry actors: the Australian Food and Grocery Council; Coca Cola; McDonald’s; Nestle; and Woolworths, for the period January 2012 to February 2015. Data analysis was guided by an existing framework for classifying CPA strategies of the food industry. Results The selected food industry actors used multiple CPA strategies, with ‘information and messaging’ and ‘constituency building’ strategies most prominent. Conclusions The systematic analysis of publicly-available information over a limited period was able to identify diverse and extensive CPA strategies of the food industry in Australia. This approach can contribute to accountability mechanisms for NCD prevention.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-016-2955-7Food industryCorporate political activityNon-communicable diseases |
| spellingShingle | Melissa Mialon Boyd Swinburn Steven Allender Gary Sacks Systematic examination of publicly-available information reveals the diverse and extensive corporate political activity of the food industry in Australia BMC Public Health Food industry Corporate political activity Non-communicable diseases |
| title | Systematic examination of publicly-available information reveals the diverse and extensive corporate political activity of the food industry in Australia |
| title_full | Systematic examination of publicly-available information reveals the diverse and extensive corporate political activity of the food industry in Australia |
| title_fullStr | Systematic examination of publicly-available information reveals the diverse and extensive corporate political activity of the food industry in Australia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Systematic examination of publicly-available information reveals the diverse and extensive corporate political activity of the food industry in Australia |
| title_short | Systematic examination of publicly-available information reveals the diverse and extensive corporate political activity of the food industry in Australia |
| title_sort | systematic examination of publicly available information reveals the diverse and extensive corporate political activity of the food industry in australia |
| topic | Food industry Corporate political activity Non-communicable diseases |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-016-2955-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT melissamialon systematicexaminationofpubliclyavailableinformationrevealsthediverseandextensivecorporatepoliticalactivityofthefoodindustryinaustralia AT boydswinburn systematicexaminationofpubliclyavailableinformationrevealsthediverseandextensivecorporatepoliticalactivityofthefoodindustryinaustralia AT stevenallender systematicexaminationofpubliclyavailableinformationrevealsthediverseandextensivecorporatepoliticalactivityofthefoodindustryinaustralia AT garysacks systematicexaminationofpubliclyavailableinformationrevealsthediverseandextensivecorporatepoliticalactivityofthefoodindustryinaustralia |