Australia

Dr Gary Sacks

Senior Research Fellow

Faculty of Health, Deakin Population Health SRC

Melbourne Burwood Campus, Deakin University Melbourne, Australia

Email: Gary Sacks

Professor Bruce Neal

Deputy Executive Director

George Institute Australia

Newtown, Sydney, Australia

Email: Bruce Neal

Professor Amanda Lee

Professor Public Health Policy

School of Public Health

Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland,

Herston, Queensland, Australia

Email: Professor Amanda Lee

Dr Bridget Kelly

Senior Lecturer in Public Health

University of Wollongong

Wollongong, Australia

Email: Dr Bridget Kelly

Prof Kathryn Backholer

Co – Director Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE)

Fellow Public Health Association of Australia

School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University

Email: Kathryn Backholer

Oriana Ruffini

Associate Research Fellow

Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation

Deakin University

Burwood VIC, Australia

Email: Oriana Ruffini

Ella Robinson

Research Fellow

Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation

Deakin University

Burwood VIC, Australia

Email: Ella Robinson

Module	Status (as of March 2025)
Overall	Australia’s Food Environment Dashboard was launched in June 2021, showcasing the best-available, most up-to-date data to provide an overall picture of the healthiness of Australia’s food environment
Public Sector (Food EPI)	New Food-EPI reports published March 2019. These progress updates, followed up on actions taken against recommendations made in 2017 reports. The launch of the reports generated national media coverage Repeated Food-EPI. Results published on 2022 2025: Launched The Local Food Systems Policy Index (Local Food-EPI+), tool designed to help local governments benchmark their policies aimed at improving the healthiness, equity, and environmental sustainability of local food systems. Published an article on the development of the Local Food Systems Policy Index
Private Sector	Conducted evaluation of BIA-Obesity, including interviews with all companies asking about the impact it had on their company and recommendations for improvement. Repeat assessment of food companies expected in 2023.
Food Composition	Annual Australian packaged food supply audit including around 30,000 items that populate the FoodSwitch database. Findings are annually reported in the “FoodSwitch – State of the food supply”, which describes the healthiness of crucial food categories and manufacturer portfolios based on indicators. Annual media coverage for the ‘FoodSwitch – State of the food supply’ reports, which are available for download at The George Institute of Public Health website. “2023 State of the Food Supply Report: A Five-Year Review” published. “Foodswitch: State of the Food Supply 2022” published. “Foodswitch: State of the Food Supply 2021” published. “FoodSwitch: State of the Fast Food Supply 2020” published. “Foodswitch: State of the Food Supply 2019” published.
Food Labelling
Food Promotion	In 2024, the food promotion team is currently developing two INFORMAS protocols: 1) monitoring digital media and 2) monitoring marketing exposures across media and settings. This work draws on multiple studies that the team has conducted. Published the following research articles: Nicholson E, Kelly B. Establishing the minimum media time sample required to obtain reliable estimates of children’s digital media food marketing exposures. Current Developments in Nutrition 2023; 7 (6). doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.100092. Brooks R, Christidis R, Carah N, Kelly B, Martino F, Backholer K. Turning users into “unofficial brand ambassadors”: marketing of unhealthy food and non-alcoholic beverages on TikTok. BMJ Global Health 2022;7:e009112. Kelly B, Bosward R, Freeman B. Australian Children’s Exposure to, and Engagement With, Web-Based Marketing of Food and Drink Brands: Cross-sectional Observational Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2021;23(7):e28144. doi:10.2196/28144 Richmond K, Watson W, Hughes C, Kelly B. Children’s trips to school dominated by unhealthy food advertising in Sydney, Australia. Public Health Research & Practice. 2020;30(1):e3012005. https://doi.org/10.17061/phrp3012005 Published papers on food marketing monitoring: Boyland E, Backholer K, Potvin Kent M. Bragg M, Sing F, Karupaiah T, Kelly B. Unhealthy food and non-alcoholic beverage marketing to children in the digital age: research and policy challenges and priorities. Annual Review of Nutrition. Accepted December 2023. Backholer K, Gupta A, Zorbas C, Bennett R, Huse O, Chung A, Isaacs A, Golds G, Kelly B, Peeters A. Differential exposure to, and impact of, unhealthy food and non-alcoholic beverage advertising to children by socioeconomic and sociodemographic subgroups: A systematic review of the evidence. Obesity Reviews. 2020 Oct 18. doi: 10.1111/obr.13144.
Food Prices	Published research on Cost and Affordability of Habitual and Recommended Diets in Welfare Dependent Houselds in Australia We have developed standardised ‘optimal’ methods to assess cost and affordability of current and healthy diets in Australia and, with Dr Sally MacKay, in New Zealand. The methods have been adapted for use with different sub-populations, such as Indigenous communities. They can be adapted for use in countries with national food and nutrition intake surveys and food-based dietary guidelines. We have received funding to develop a Healthy Diet ASAP (Australian Standardised Affordability and Pricing) APP, and to estimate the cost and affordability of current and healthy diets in key Australian jurisdictions, with Ass Prof Gary Sacks). PhD student Meron Lewis is adapting the methods for use with low socioeconomic groups. With PhD student Christina Zorbas and Dr Katherine Backholer, we are exploring methods to “scrape” food price data from supermarket websites, which would allow for continuous food price monitoring in Australia. implementing Healthy Diets ASAP (Australian Standardised Affordability and Pricing) protocol in Brisbane and Melbourne (Mandy Lee). Ongoing collection of real-time price data from supermarket websites, including price promotions (Kathryn Backholer)
Food Retail	Monitoring in-store supermarket environments (shelf length, price promotions, end-of-aisle displays, check-outs) in about 100 stores across 4 chains. Monitoring all food outlet types in Victoria, looking at relative density of healthy compared with unhealthy outlets, including change over time.
Food Provision	NSW Health collecting detailed data on food provided in hospitals, using online tool. Need to explore opportunity to analyse that data (might not be possible).
Food Trade & Investment

Ruffini, O., Relf, C., Mann, D., Blake, M. R., Carrad, A., Reeve, B., Barbour, L., Vanderlee, L., Vandevijvere, S., & Sacks, G. (2024). Development of the Local Food Systems Policy Index (Local Food-EPI+) tool and assessment process to benchmark the implementation of local government policies for creating healthy, equitable and environmentally sustainable food systems. Public health nutrition, 27(1), e191. https://doi.org/10.1017/S136898002400140X

Nicholson E, Kelly B. Establishing the minimum media time sample required to obtain reliable estimates of children’s digital media food marketing exposures. Current Developments in Nutrition 2023; 7 (6). doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.100092.

Brooks R, Christidis R, Carah N, Kelly B, Martino F, Backholer K. Turning users into “unofficial brand ambassadors”: marketing of unhealthy food and non-alcoholic beverages on TikTok. BMJ Global Health 2022;7:e009112.

Kelly B, Bosward R, Freeman B. Australian Children’s Exposure to, and Engagement With, Web-Based Marketing of Food and Drink Brands: Cross-sectional Observational Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2021;23(7):e28144.doi:10.2196/28144

Richmond K, Watson W, Hughes C, Kelly B. Children’s trips to school dominated by unhealthy food advertising in Sydney, Australia. Public Health Research & Practice. 2020;30(1):e3012005. https://doi.org/10.17061/phrp3012005

Sacks, G., Robinson. E., Vandevijvere, S., Cameron, A.J., Ni Mhurchu, C., Lee, A., … Swinburn, B. (2019). BIA‐Obesity (Business Impact Assessment—Obesity and population‐level nutrition): A tool and process to assess food company policies and commitments related to obesity prevention and population nutrition at the national level. Obesity Reviews, 1-12. doi.org/10.1111/obr.12878

Sacks, G., Robinson, E., Cameron, A.J., Vanderlee, L., Vandevijvere, S., Swinburn, B. (2020). Benchmarking the Nutrition Related Policies and Commitments of Major Food Companies in Australia, 2018. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17:6118. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17176118

Lee A; Lewis M. Testing the Price of Healthy and Current Diets in Remote Aboriginal Communities to Improve Food Security: Development of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healthy Diets ASAP (Australian Standardised Affordability and Pricing) Methods. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Dec 19;15(12). pii: E2912. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15122912.

Love P, Whelan J, Bell C, Grainger F, Russell C, Lewis M, Lee A. Healthy Diets in Rural Victoria-Cheaper than Unhealthy Alternatives, Yet Unaffordable. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15, 2469.

Lee AJ, Kane S, Lewis M, Good E, Pollard CM, Landrigan TJ and Dick M. Healthy diets ASAP – Australian Standardised Affordability and Pricing methods protocol. Nutrition Journal 2018;17:88. doi: org/10.1186/s12937-018-0396-0

Lee A, Affordability of fruit and vegetables and dietary quality worldwide-Commentary, The Lancet Global Health, Invited contribution, Published Online, August 23, 2016 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(16)30206-6, 4: October 2016

Lewis M and Lee A, Costing ‘healthy’ food baskets in Australia – A systematic review of food price and affordability monitoring tools, protocols and methods, Public Health Nutrition 19: (16) 2872-2886, published online November 2016 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1368980016002160

Lee AJ, Kane S, Ramsey R, Good E, Dick M Testing the price and affordability of healthy and current (unhealthy) diets and the potential impacts of policy change in Australia, BMC Public Health 2016, 16:315 doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-2996-y

Reports

The George Institute for Global Health. (2023). FoodSwitch: State of the Food Supply Report: A Five-Year Review November 2023.

The George Institute for Global Health. (2022). FoodSwitch: State of the Food Supply Australia 2022. Retrieved from https://foodenvironmentdashboard.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/203/2023/11/FoodSwitch-Food-Supply-Report-2022.pdf

The George Institute for Global Health. (2021). FoodSwitch: State of the Food Supply Australia 2021. Retrieved from https://www.georgeinstitute.org/sites/default/files/SotFS-Report.pdf

The George Institute for Global Health. (2020). FoodSwitch: State of the Fast Food Supply Australia May 2020. Retrieved fromhttps://foodenvironmentdashboard.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/203/2021/05/State-of-the-fast-food-supply-2020.pdf

Neal, B., Sacks, G., Shahid, M., Taylor, F., Huffman, M. The George Institute for Global Health. (2019). FoodSwitch: State of the Food Supply April 2019. Retrieved from https://www.georgeinstitute.org/sites/default/files/food_supply_report.pdf

Policies for tackling obesity and creating healthier food environments 2019 progress update Australian governments March 2019. https://www.foodpolicyindex.org.au/

Inside our Supermarkets Australia 2018: Assessment of company policies and commitments related to obesity prevention and nutrition.https://www.insideourfoodcompanies.com.au

Inside our Food and Beverage Manufacturers Australia 2018: Assessment of company policies and commitments related to obesity prevention and nutrition.https://www.insideourfoodcompanies.com.au/

Inside our Quick Service Restaurants Australia 2018: Assessment of company policies and commitments related to obesity prevention and nutrition.https://www.insideourfoodcompanies.com.au/

Policies for tackling obesity and creating healthier food environments Scorecard and priority recommendations for Australian governments. 2017 Food policy Index. https://www.insideourfoodcompanies.com.au/

A healthy diet is cheaper than junk food but a good diet is still too expensive for some. The Conversation, May 25, 2016 https://theconversation.com/a-healthy-diet-is-cheaper-than-junk-food-but-a-good-diet-is-still-too-expensive-for-some-57873

Are healthy diets really more expensive. TAPPC Findings brief https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=11&ved=2ahUKEwihuLKBrNHhAhVSJHIKHc9UDucQFjAKegQIAhAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreventioncentre.org.au%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F03%2F1702_FB_LEE_4p_final_lr.pdf&usg=AOvVaw1KJYb0r03csIF8FCY6VCyI

Healthy Diets ASAP (Australian Standardised Affordability and Pricing) survey, Canberra: The price, price differential and affordability of current (unhealthy) and healthy diets and potential impacts of policy change; Final report to ACT Health, 20 May 2016 (Lee A, Kane S, Lewis M)

Healthy Diets ASAP (Australian Standardised Affordability and Pricing) survey, Sydney: The price, price differential and affordability of current (unhealthy) and healthy diets and potential impacts of policy change; Final report to NSW Department of Health, 20 May 2016 (Lee A, Kane S, Lewis M)

Presentations

Lee A, Kane S and Lewis M, Are heathy diets really more expensive?, International congress of Obesity, World Obesity, Vancouver, Canada, 1-4 May 2016 (poster presentation).

Lee A, Measuring the price of healthy and current diets, International Conference on Diet and Activity Methods, Brisbane September 2015.

Lee A, Monitoring and benchmarking food price and affordability internationally; Third INFORMAS meeting, QUT Brisbane, September 2016.

Lee A, Food Prices Symposium, ISBNPA Conference, Edinburgh June 2015 (co-convenor).

Lee A, Measuring the cost of healthy diets, Food Prices Methods Symposium, ISBNPA Conference, Edinburgh June 2015.

Lee A, Nutrition policy and the price of healthy food, Research Collaboration meeting, Australian China Centre for Public Health, Sun Yat Sen University, Guangzhou, PR China, 10-12 May 2015.

Workshop

National Healthy Diets ASAP Forum, sought and achieved agreement on final methods for nationally standardised food price and affordability surveys. Brisbane, Australia 10 March 2016.

Additional Publications

The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre funded the development of the Healthy Diets ASAP (Australian Standardised Affordability and Pricing) methods. See project website: https://preventioncentre.org.au/our-work/research-projects/are-healthy-diets-really-more-expensive/

The Medical Research Future Fund Boosting Prevention Project (BP3): Diet and chronic disease prevention: supporting implementation of priority actions in the food and nutrition system. See project website: https://preventioncentre.org.au/our-work/research-projects/supporting-priority-actions-in-the-food-and-nutrition-system/ (funding the APP and current development and survey work in Australia)