Change agents: Policy makers

We work to strengthen the nutrition economy by supporting policies which incentivize industry to deliver on public health objectives.

Government action, in the form of progressive policies, can incentivize markets to deliver sustainable access to healthier, more affordable foods. Current strategies of industry self-regulation and voluntary actions are failing to improve the food environment quickly enough; mandatory policies are key.

ATNi's Policy Priorities include:

Fiscal policies that raise the costs of less healthy foods (e.g. those high in fat, salt, and sugar, such as sugar-sweetened beverage taxes) and lower the costs of healthier options through subsidies or other incentives to reduce the price of nutritious foods (e.g. fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes).
Policies to improve the food environment through the mandatory adoption and use of government-endorsed nutrient profile models (NPMs). Endorsing an NPM is a first step to inform other food environment policies, including mandatory front-of-package nutrition labelling (FOPNL), the use of health claims, and restrictions on marketing to children.

3. Sustainability reporting requirements that include nutrition as a core component.

ATNi recognizes that nutrition cannot be separated from planetary health. Our policy priorities favour interventions that deliver co-benefits for human health, environmental sustainability, social equity, and economic resilience.

How ATNi engages with policy makers

ATNi co-develops research projects in consultation with policy makers and policy advocacy organizations, translating research findings for policymakers to highlight corporate actions and policy gaps. ATNi shows where companies are improving access to healthier, more affordable foods—and where government regulation is needed.

Partnering to drive progressive food policies

ATNi partners with advocacy and policy partners active in national level policy debates. In Kenya, ATNi works with the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) to support stronger food systems policies.

Together, they host policy-focused events that bring ATNi data on private sector action into national conversations, building on domestic policy priorities.

Bringing Data on Private Sector Activity into Policy Discussions

In Vietnam, ATNi collaborated with UNICEF and Alive & Thrive to launch our Breastmilk Substitute and Complementary Feeding Index. The index was presented to the government, highlighting areas of progress as well as opportunities to strengthen regulations.

Regional Policy Recommendations based on the Global Index:

Drawing on findings from the 2024 Global Access to Nutrition Index, this policy brief outlines where voluntary commitments by companies are falling short and where mandatory regulation is urgently needed.

ATNi recommends EU-wide policies including:

Mandatory front-of-package nutrition labelling
Restrictions on marketing unhealthy foods to children
Fiscal policies to make healthy foods more accessible and affordable

EU Policy Recommendations
Research on Corporate Lobbying

Ongoing Policy Discussions

ATNi continues to engage with emerging and evolving issues in food policy:

1. Principles for private sector engagement: The private sector plays a critical role in food systems. At the same time, power asymmetries can create make equal engagement challenging. How can the nutrition community develop shared principles that ensure engagement with private sector is fair, honest, and fully transparent?

2. Ultra-processed foods: As concerns grow, ATNI is exploring how to incorporate measures of ultra-processed food content—such as dyes and additives—into future indexes. As the science evolves, this may become a formal policy focus.

ATNi contributes to key global policy debates through research and public dialogue:

Fiscal policies and obesity: With obesity rates continuing to rise, fiscal tools such as taxes on foods high in fat, salt, and sugar are gaining traction. Do these taxes work? What evidence supports their effectiveness?
Nutrition in ESG reporting: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks are increasingly adopted—but rarely include nutrition. What will it take to embed nutrition as a standard ESG metric?
Corporate lobbying: Food and beverage companies actively engage in lobbying, often pushing for less regulation. Are these interactions transparent, consistent, and accountable? What policies could improve oversight and governance?

Retailers’ role in shaping food environments: Supermarkets and modern food retailers play a significant role in consumer choices. What policies can support them in increasing access to healthier, more affordable food?
Feeding the future: Regulating Unhealthy Marketing to Children: Despite clear evidence that marketing unhealthy foods to children leads to increased calorie intake and increased preference for unhealthy foods, government have been slow to introduce mandatory regulations. Why are mandatory regulations so urgently needed? What is happening in other countries? What are some good examples other countries can follow?

For more information on ATNi’s policy work, please reach out to Katherine Pittore, Policy and Communication Lead, at katherine.pittore@atni.org.