Food Environment in Burkina Faso: Review of Public Policies and Government Actions Using the Food-EPI Tool.

Abstract

Background: Governments have a central role to play in creating a food environment that will enable people to have and maintain healthy eating practices.

Objectives: This study analyzes public policies and government actions related to creating healthy food environments in Burkina Faso.

Methods: The Healthy Food Environment Policy Index tool used for this study has 2 components, 13 domains, and 56 indicators of good practice adapted to the Burkina Faso context. Official policy documents collected from data sources such as government and nongovernment websites, and through interviews with government and nongovernment resource persons, provided evidence of considerations of food environment in public policy documents in Burkina Faso.

Results: Policies documents show a lack of revision of old texts and administrative processes for new policies and government practices are very slow. Added to this is the absence of a regulatory document for some implemented actions. The analysis of the documents collected in relation to the indicators of Food-Epi tool shows that there is no evidence of consideration of food environments for the indicators concerning the regulation of nutrition and health claims, labeling, taxes on healthy and unhealthy foods, support systems for training for private structures on healthy diets, implementation of food guidelines, and food trade and investment.

Conclusion: This study permits a review of public policies that take into account food environments through the various indicators and constitutes a starting point from which improvements can be made by the government.