In this piece, ATNI highlights some of its initial observations on how COVID-19, and food industry responses to the crisis, are impacting healthy diets. To help ensure there is accountability across the food system, ATNI has developed a new framework to assess action (or inaction) from food and beverage manufacturers, adding an explicit COVID-19 lens to its existing assessment of companies. This will be a powerful tool to empower stakeholders in the public sectors while holding private sector actors accountable. As this piece rightly states: "It is imperative that companies do not use the COVID-19 crisis to negatively influence public health efforts. At the same time, commercial and philanthropic actions should not undermine nutrition and healthy diets."
Indicators for this framework will help assess companies in a range of areas, including:
- strategic commitments
- product formulation and marketing
- accessibility and affordability of products
- support for employees and supply chain partners
- and whether, during the crisis, baby food manufacturers are marketing their products appropriately
- engagement actions in support of governments’ efforts to combat the crisis
- leadership examples in supporting SMEs and livelihoods across the food value chain.
Learn more about this new framework: What are food and beverage companies globally doing in response to the COVID-19 crisis?