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An Umbrella Review and Narrative Synthesis of the Effectiveness of Interventions Aimed at Decreasing Food Prices to Increase Food Quality

Author

Listed:
  • Chiara Milani

    (School of Specialization in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Chiara Lorini

    (Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Alberto Baldasseroni

    (Department of Prevention, Local Health Unit Toscana Centro, 50135 Florence, Italy)

  • Claudia Dellisanti

    (Department of Prevention, Local Health Unit Toscana Centro, 50135 Florence, Italy)

  • Guglielmo Bonaccorsi

    (Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy)

Abstract

Background: sustainability of population diet is a public health concern: the high price of healthy food is one of the main causes of diet-related health problems. The aim of this study is to synthesize the evidence produced by systematic reviews that evaluated the effectiveness of decreasing healthy food prices to improve accessibility in order to positively modify the dietary pattern. Methods: We carried out a review of systematic reviews that examined the effects of the interventions, by exploring the online databases PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and hand-searching the reference lists. Results: after screening by titles and abstracts, we selected 11 systematic reviews that met the inclusion criteria, plus one that was hand-searched. The review generally presented a good quality. Studies concluded that measures aimed at modifying the prices of targeted healthy food were effective in improving population diet by modifying what people buy. Conclusions: the complexity of the outcome—population diet—as well as the poor transferability of data across populations and geographical areas makes it obligatory to provide clear and universal conclusions. Nonetheless, this should not stop policymakers from adapting them and resorting to food fiscal interventions to improve people’s diet and health.

Suggested Citation

  • Chiara Milani & Chiara Lorini & Alberto Baldasseroni & Claudia Dellisanti & Guglielmo Bonaccorsi, 2019. "An Umbrella Review and Narrative Synthesis of the Effectiveness of Interventions Aimed at Decreasing Food Prices to Increase Food Quality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-15, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:13:p:2346-:d:245160
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andreyeva, T. & Long, M.W. & Brownell, K.D., 2010. "The impact of food prices on consumption: A systematic review of research on the price elasticity of demand for food," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(2), pages 216-222.
    2. David Tilman & Michael Clark, 2014. "Global diets link environmental sustainability and human health," Nature, Nature, vol. 515(7528), pages 518-522, November.
    3. Helen Eyles & Cliona Ni Mhurchu & Nhung Nghiem & Tony Blakely, 2012. "Food Pricing Strategies, Population Diets, and Non-Communicable Disease: A Systematic Review of Simulation Studies," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(12), pages 1-22, December.
    4. Nicole Darmon & Adam Drewnowski, 2015. "Contribution of food prices and diet cost to socioeconomic disparities in diet quality and health: a systematic review and analysis," Post-Print hal-01774670, HAL.
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