Identifying food environment policies and research needs in Latin America and the Caribbean: insights from the Community of Practice in Nutrition and Health in Latin America and the Caribbean (COLANSA)

Abstract

Background

Nutrition-related health issues remain a significant public health challenge in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), where rapid transformations in food systems have contributed to increasing obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases. Government policies are key to shaping healthier food environments, but their implementation and evaluation vary widely across countries. This study aimed to identify national-level public policies that promote healthy food environments in the LAC region and to outline priority areas for research to strengthen their implementation, from the perspectives of researchers and advocates.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted between July and December 2024, combining a bibliographic review and an online survey. The review compiled national laws, regulations, and policy documents from multiple databases, official government websites, and reports from international organizations. A structured, country-adapted questionnaire was administered to members of the Community of Practice in Nutrition and Health in Latin America and the Caribbean (COLANSA). Participants were asked to revise the list of policies in place in their countries, as identified by the review, and prioritize up to five policies requiring further research. They were also asked to specify the types of studies needed.

Results

The review identified 130 relevant documents. Seventy-three participants from 17 countries completed the survey, most of whom were affiliated with academic or civil society institutions. According to the review, all countries had legislation related to ingredient and nutrient declaration in labels, food-based dietary guidelines, and at least a regulation that influences school food environments. Measures such as fiscal incentives for sustainable agriculture, subsidies for healthy foods, and mechanisms to prevent industry interference were less commonly in place. The restriction of food advertising to children and adolescents, the policies to reduce inequalities and protect vulnerable populations, and the promotion of healthy foods were the most frequently identified priorities for further research. Study types that were more frequently suggested included analyses of implementation barriers, industry interference, policy impact evaluation, and stakeholder mapping.

Conclusions

This study identified food environment policies across LAC and research needs. The respondents emphasized the need for research to assess policy implementation, monitor impact, and address barriers such as industry interference. Strengthening regional collaboration and applied research capacities may contribute to generating actionable evidence for more effective and equitable food policies in the region.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-026-26460-y.

Background

Nutrition-related health issues represent a critical public health challenge in Latin America and the Caribbean. The food systems in the region have undergone significant transformations over recent decades, marked by the rise of large-scale food production, particularly of ultra-processed foods; the expansion of supermarkets as primary food retailers; aggressive marketing of unhealthy food products; and an increase in eating outside the home [1, 2]. These changes have been linked to rising obesity rates in both adults and their children [1, 3], as well as high rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which are the leading causes of death and disability in the region [4]. Remarkably, the high prevalence of obesity is accompanied by various forms of malnutrition, a phenomenon known as the “double burden of malnutrition” [5], which has been further intensified by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on nutritional status [6]. Addressing these challenges and promoting healthier diets in the region requires carefully targeted public policies considering these complex, interrelated factors in the food environment.

Food environments encompass the physical, economic, political, and sociocultural characteristics, opportunities, and conditions that influence people’s food choices and nutritional status [7]. Healthy food environments are those where foods and beverages aligned with dietary guidelines are widely available, accessible, affordable, and actively promoted. However, the current environments in the region are often dominated by energy-dense, nutrient-poor processed products [8]. These environments significantly impact dietary patterns across populations, usually encouraging unhealthy food choices. Government policies have great potential to create an environment that promotes healthy eating. A set of policies, regulations and actions has previously been identified as having the potential to foster healthy food environments, including those that modify or regulate the composition, labeling, or promotion of food, retail sales, prices, or affordability of products, as well as the leadership, governance, and monitoring activities, among others [7, 9, 10]. The adoption and implementation of several of these policies have been previously studied in selected Latin American countries [11–14].

Evidence-informed policy-making is a core component of good public governance, as it enhances the quality, accountability, and effectiveness of public policies throughout the policy cycle. The integration of data, research evidence, and policy evaluations supports informed decision-making during policy design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation [15]. Evidence also contributes to building “policy memory”, identifying effective and ineffective practices, and guiding the efficient use of limited public resources [16]. During implementation, approaches from implementation science are particularly relevant to adapt policies to local contexts while preserving their intended effects [17]. Although policy-making occurs within complex political environments, ensuring transparency, integrity, and appropriate management of conflicts of interest remain essential to maintaining trust in evidence and policy processes [15].

Strengthening food systems and improving food environments and diets are also key components for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to ending hunger, ensuring healthy lives, and reducing inequalities [18, 19]. Advancing knowledge on the design, implementation, and monitoring of public policies that promote healthy food environments in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is therefore essential for addressing the double burden of malnutrition and contributing to achieving global commitments for sustainable development.

In LAC, a wide range of research and advocacy initiatives aimed at improving food systems have been developed by professionals and organizations across the region. In this context, the Community of Practice in Nutrition and Health in Latin America and the Caribbean (COLANSA) was established in 2021 with the support of the International Development Research Center (IDRC). COLANSA is an open community of practice that brings together individuals and institutions committed to improving the region’s food systems in the region. Its primary aim is to foster collaboration between researchers and those involved in advocacy, creating spaces for shared learning, exchange of experiences and knowledge and dialogue between research and policy implementation. This interaction is expected to enrich research with practical insights and provide evidence and analysis to strengthen advocacy strategies, resulting in a more effective and transformative impact on food system improvements [20]. Simultaneously, COLANSA acknowledges that the countries of the region differ in their political, economic, and social contexts; thus, their research needs may vary. In this context, it is essential to incorporate the perspectives of researchers and advocates working within each country, as they provide valuable insights to identify both shared regional priorities and context-specific national needs.

This study aimed to identify national-level public policies promoting healthier food environments in Latin America and the Caribbean and to collaboratively outline priority research needs to support their implementation, from the perspectives of researchers and advocates working across the region.

Methods

Study design and setting

This was a cross-sectional, observational study. It included a review of national-level public policies promoting healthy food environments in LAC and a survey administered to researchers and advocates working in the region between July and December 2024.

Policy identification

A preliminary inventory of food environment policies and regulations was developed based on selected indicators from the “Policies” and “Infrastructure” components of the Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI), developed by the International Network for Food and Obesity/NCDs Research, Monitoring and Action Support (INFORMAS) [14]. Food-EPI domains refer to aspects of the food environment that can be influenced by governments to create readily accessible, available and affordable healthier food choices. For this work, the research team selected the domains from a previously adapted Food-EPI framework for the Latin American context, focusing on food composition, food labeling, food promotion, food prices, food retail, leadership and governance. In addition, policy areas considered particularly relevant in the region were included as monitoring compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes [21] and the existence and use of guidelines to prevent conflicts of interest and promote transparency in food and nutrition policies [22]. The inventory focused on policies that had been partially implemented or were considered feasible for implementation at the national level in at least one LAC country. The resulting list was refined through iterative review and discussion within the research team and informed by input from experts affiliated with the Latin American Chapter of INFORMAS and from the Research and Advocacy Groups participating in COLANSA. Table 1 presents the final set of policies included in this study.

Table 1.

Selection of policies and regulations under study

1. Maximum limits for Sodium content in processed foods

2. Maximum limits for Trans Fat content in processed foods

3. Maximum limits for Added Sugar content in processed foods

4. Regulation of Front-of-Package labeling

5. Declaration of ingredient and/ or nutrient content on labels

6. Restriction of advertising targeted at children and adolescents

7. Promotion of healthy foods

8. Regulation that limits the availability of unhealthy foods at points of sale (display and location)

9. At least one national policy regulating the provision, advertising, promotion, and sponsorship in schools and childcare centers for food service activities

10. Taxes on the purchase and/or importation of sugary beverages/ other unhealthy food products

11. Subsidies for the purchase of healthy foods

12. Fiscal incentives for sustainable agriculture

13. Implementation of food-based dietary guidelines

14. Reduction of inequalities and protection of vulnerable populations in relation to food

15. Guidelines to restrict industry influence and prevent conflicts of interest, as well as directives to ensure transparency in food and nutrition policies

16. Legislation is substantially aligned with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and subsequent World Health Assembly Resolutions

A review was conducted to identify the existence of the selected policies across countries in the region. Searches were performed in COLANSA E-Library, a repository of documents relevant to food systems in Latin America and the Caribbean [23], the Food Policy Program Research Database [24], the NOURISHING database [25] and resources from the Global Food Research Program [26]. This process was complemented by searches on national government websites and by reviewing reports published by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN). Search terms and categories adapted to each database or repository are described in the Supplementary File 1. The review was conducted between February and April 2024. No restrictions were applied regarding the year of publication. Laws, decrees, regulations, and other official government documents, as well as articles examining the adoption or implementation of the public policies of interest in Latin America, were considered to identify the policies adopted by the different countries. Documents in Spanish, English, and Portuguese were included. All retrieved records were screened in two steps. First, titles and document descriptions were reviewed to assess their relevance to the selected policy areas. Second, full documents were examined to confirm whether they contained official legislation or regulatory measures. When multiple documents referred to the same policy, the most recent or authoritative source was recorded. To enhance accuracy, two researchers independently verified the presence or absence of each policy. Discrepancies were resolved through discussion and, when needed, by consulting a third reviewer or cross-checking additional official documents.

For each selected policy, we recorded the country, the presence or absence of a related law, regulation or policy, and its data source. Legislation was considered present if it had been officially enacted, regardless of its level of implementation or enforcement. This data informed the development of the survey questionnaires.

Online questionnaire and research prioritization

A structured electronic survey was conducted to complement the documentary review and to identify research needs related to food environment policies. Eligible participants included COLANSA members and individuals they referred with expertise in specific policy areas, who were engaged in research, policy analysis, and/or advocacy on food and nutrition in any LAC country, and who reported no conflicts of interest related to the food industry. COLANSA members were invited by email.

The questionnaire was specifically developed for this study, based on the list of policies identified in the documentary review and adapted for each country. An example of the English version of the questionnaire is provided as Supplementary File 2. Country-adapted questionnaires comprised two sections: (a) information on the presence or absence of national policies, where respondents confirmed or provided feedback on the list of existing policies in their countries; and (b) prioritization of policies requiring further research, where participants could select and rank up to five policies (from priority 1 to 5), including those listed in Table 1 or others considered of interest for their countries. For each selected policy, respondents were asked to indicate the type(s) of research needed, such as studies on barriers to adoption or implementation, stakeholder mapping within the policy cycle, level of implementation, monitoring and enforcement, industry interference, post-implementation impact evaluation, modeling or predictions of potential national impact, population acceptance, or other areas deemed relevant by the respondents. The types of research included in the prioritization were informed by existing literature on food environment policies and implementation research, and refined by the research team to ensure relevance to the regional context [7, 27, 28]. Information on respondents’ affiliation, role, field of work, and potential conflicts of interest was also collected.

Data analysis

Data from the documentary review were complemented by survey responses to ascertain the existence of policies and actions in each country. The combined information was summarized in a policy-by-country matrix, which was used to identify the most frequently implemented policies in the region. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics for closed-ended questions, while policies were ranked by frequency of selection as research priorities. Open-ended responses for the research needs section were coded into predefined categories, with emerging categories added when necessary. All analyses were conducted using Microsoft Excel and StataMP 14.0 (StataCorp LP).

Results

A total of 73 participants from 17 countries completed the survey. Most were affiliated with universities, research institutions and/or civil society organizations (Table 2).

Table 2.

Country and sector affiliations of the study participants (n = 73)

Characteristic	n	(%)
Country
Argentina	12	(16.4)
Brazil	10	(13.7)
Chile	7	(9.6)
Colombia	5	(6.8)
Ecuador	5	(6.8)
Mexico	5	(6.8)
Peru	5	(6.8)
Uruguay	5	(6.8)
Costa Rica	4	(5.5)
Bolivia	3	(4.1)
Guatemala	3	(4.1)
Paraguay	3	(4.1)
Barbados	2	(2.7)
El Salvador	1	(1.4)
Honduras	1	(1.4)
Jamaica	1	(1.4)
Venezuela	1	(1.4)
Respondents´ affiliation
Academy (Education & Research)	31	(42.5)
CSO	16	(21.9)
Academy + CSO	11	(15.1)
Academy + Gov/ML	8	(11.0)
Public Institutions/Gov (Hospitals, Health care)	7	(9.6)

CSO Civil Society Organizations, Gov Government institutions, ML Multilateral organizations

Policies in place in the region

Information for this section is based on 136 documents (130 retrieved from the documentary review and 6 provided through survey responses). The selected policies in place across the 17 countries included in the study are summarized in Supplementary File 3, Table S1. Briefly, all countries had at least one legislation with mandatory requirements for ingredient and nutrient declarations on food labels, national food-based dietary guidelines, at least one regulation influencing food provision, advertising, or promotion in schools and childcare centers, and policies or regulations aimed at reducing inequalities and protecting vulnerable populations in relation to food. Policies or actions promoting healthy foods were also identified in most countries (14 out of 17).

Taxes on the purchase and/or importation of sugary beverages, front-of-package labeling, mandatory maximum limits for trans-fat content in processed foods, and restrictions on food advertising targeted at children were documented in 8 to 11 countries. In contrast, fiscal incentives for sustainable agriculture, subsidies for the purchase of healthy foods, and guidelines to restrict industry influence were reported in six or fewer countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), only one of the 17 countries (Brazil) had policies substantially aligned with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and subsequent World Health Assembly Resolutions. Several other countries had related regulations in this matter, although most survey respondents indicated challenges in implementation and monitoring. No country reported regulations limiting the display or placement of unhealthy foods at points of sale at the national level, nor mandatory limits for added sugars.

At the country level, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay were among those with the largest number of documented policies. (Supplementary File 3, Figure S1)

Policies requiring further research

The prioritized national policies for further research are presented in Fig. 1. The survey identified the restriction of food advertising targeted at children and adolescents as the top research priority (36 mentions), followed by the reduction of inequalities and protection of vulnerable populations in relation to food, promotion of healthy foods, front-of-package labeling, the implementation of guidelines to prevent conflicts of interest and industry interference and subsidies for the purchase of healthy foods (29, 29, 26, 25 and 25 mentions, respectively). These policies were frequently ranked as first- or second-order priorities. Nevertheless, all policies included in the survey were considered research priorities to some extent.

Fig. 1.

Prioritized food environment national policies for further research. The stacked bars show the number of mentions according to priority rank (1–5)

Figure 2 summarizes the types of studies most frequently suggested across food environment policies, with the highest mentions related to studying barriers to implementation, industry interference, impact assessment, stakeholder mapping, and modeling potential effects before adoption. The category “Others”, though less frequent, reflected other emerging themes such as the economic impact of NCDs in particular countries, policy alignment, or the contribution of smallholder farming, highlighting the importance of context-specific research questions.

Fig. 2.

Prioritized research needs by policy. BMS, Breast-milk Substitutes; WHA, World Health Assembly. Regulating food environments in schools and childcare centers refers to regulating the provision, advertising, promotion, and sponsorship in schools and childcare centers for food service activities. “Other policy” includes an answer with a combination of the named policies and monitoring of nutritional status and dietary intake

The stratification of policies by recommended study type reveals distinct patterns. The most prevalent research recommendation across the identified policies was the assessment of barriers to adoption or implementation. This was followed by research into industry interference, which was particularly emphasized for policies regarding the restriction of food advertising to children, the promotion of healthy foods, and the implementation of guidelines to curb conflict of interest. This topic was also prominent in relation to front-of-package labeling (FOPL), taxes on unhealthy products, and legislation aligned with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (BMS).

Measuring impact emerged as a priority for all policies, especially those targeting the reduction of inequalities, the protection of vulnerable populations, subsidies for healthy foods, and the regulation of school food environments. Similarly, models or predictive studies on impact were frequently selected, particularly for advertising restrictions and FOPL. While stakeholder mapping followed a similar pattern to the barriers assessment, there were an important number of mentions for policies targeting inequality reduction. Studies of the implementation level, monitoring and enforcement were less frequently suggested, appearing primarily for school environment regulations. Finally, research on population acceptance was mostly concentrated on advertising restrictions and the promotion of healthy foods.

Discussion

This study explored the presence of selected food environment policies and the research needs perceived by researchers and advocates from 17 Latin American and Caribbean countries, members of the COLANSA network. While the work does not aim to represent all perspectives in the region, it provides insights into how a diverse group of professionals involved in food and nutrition policy perceive priorities for research and action. Our results show that policy adoption across the region is notably heterogeneous. While dietary guidelines, some school food regulations, mandatory declaration of nutrient and ingredient, and FOPL were the most widely implemented, fiscal incentives and mechanisms to limit industry influence remain underdeveloped. This variation underscores a fragmented policy landscape, where some nations are advancing toward comprehensive regulatory frameworks while others continue to face significant barriers at the early stages of policy development.

Restrictions on food advertising to children and adolescents, policies aimed at reducing inequalities and protecting vulnerable populations, and the promotion of healthy foods were the policy areas most frequently identified as requiring further research. However, all policy areas included in the questionnaire were considered relevant to some extent, underscoring the need for evidence across multiple domains of food policy. These findings are consistent with prior assessments conducted in Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, and other LAC countries, which have highlighted substantial gaps in policy implementation—particularly regarding fiscal measures, industry interference, and monitoring systems [11–14].

Regarding industry interference, recent analyses have documented the actions, strategies, mechanisms, and practices (ASMP) of corporate political activity use to obstruct public health and nutrition policies in the region [29]. Despite the limited public information, these studies revealed that the most frequent ASMP involve gaining access to and influence over policy-making during the formulation, adoption, and implementation phases [1, 29–31]. Previous evidence has also emphasized that, although LAC countries have led globally in adopting FOPL and marketing restrictions, enforcement and impact evaluations remain insufficient [32]. Moreover, our results expand on previous evidence by showing that equity-oriented policies—such as those addressing inequalities and protecting vulnerable populations—and those promoting sustainable food systems [33, 34] have emerged as key priorities for further research. This reflects the need to better understand their scope, implementation challenges, and potential effectiveness in reducing disparities within food systems.

While all countries included in the study reported having in place at least one policy regulating food environments in schools and childcare centers, the findings suggest that persistent knowledge gaps persist in relation to implementation, monitoring, enforcement, and impact assessment, consistent with challenges recently described in school environments in the region [35].

These findings have implications for both research and policy. First, they highlight the importance of applying implementation science approaches to study barriers, facilitators, and enforcement mechanisms [17]. Second, they reinforce the need to address industry interference as a cross-cutting obstacle, particularly in the adoption of fiscal and regulatory measures. Third, the prioritization of equity-related policies points to the relevance of integrating food policy with broader social protection agendas. In this context, regional research networks such as COLANSA can serve as platforms to identify shared challenges, facilitate knowledge exchange, and promote collaborative approaches to studying policy implementation and impact. The priorities identified through this process can inform multi-country research initiatives, support advocacy efforts by providing an evidence-informed agenda for engagement with governments and international agencies, and guide capacity-building and training activities. Together, these contributions may strengthen regional coordination and support efforts to advance healthier, more inclusive, and sustainable food systems in Latin America and the Caribbean, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals [18].

A strength of this study is its design, which combined a documentary review with a region-wide survey of researchers and advocates, allowing triangulation of evidence and ensuring contextual relevance. The inclusion of participants from 17 countries enhances the diversity of perspectives captured. Moreover, the involvement of a community of practice that bridges academia and advocacy ensures that results are directly relevant to ongoing policy debates. However, several limitations should be acknowledged. First, the review process relies on heterogeneous sources, which may limit reproducibility and introduce selection bias. Second, although several sources were consulted, the availability and accessibility of policy documents varied across countries and may not fully capture recent updates, potentially leading to under-identification. Third, the review focused on the existence of formally enacted policies rather than their real-world enforcement. Fourth, the survey sample, although diverse, may not be fully representative of researchers, advocates or countries in the region. In addition, survey responses relied on self-reports, which may have introduced selection bias. Also, while the study provides a snapshot of priorities at a single point in time, research needs are dynamic and may shift with changing political and economic contexts. Finally, the study reflects perceived research gaps identified by researchers and advocates in the region and should be complemented with the perspectives of other stakeholders, such as policymakers.

Conclusions

This study mapped the existence of food environment policies across 17 Latin American and Caribbean countries and documented research needs as perceived by regional experts. While significant progress was identified in the adoption of national dietary guidelines, mandatory declarations of nutrients and ingredients, some regulations targeting food environments in schools, protection of vulnerable population in relation to food, promotion pf healthy foods and mandatory FOPL, policy implementation remains notably heterogeneous, with marked gaps in restricting food marketing, fiscal measures, food retail and mechanisms to curb industry interference.

Policy domains most frequently identified with research needs were the restriction of food advertising targeted at children and adolescents, the reduction of inequalities and protection of vulnerable populations in relation to food, the promotion of healthy foods, the FOPL, and the implementation of guidelines to restrict industry influence and prevent conflicts of interest in policy making. Further research is needed to assess and address existing barriers to policy adoption and implementation, and industry interference in the policy cycle, as well as monitoring policy impact, among other type of studies. Addressing these research needs through regional collaboration is essential to strengthen food environment governance and ensuring that public health interventions in the region are robust, equitable, and evidence-based.

Abbreviations

ASMP

Action Strategies

BMS

Breast-milk Substitutes

COLANSA

Community of Practice in Nutrition and Health in Latin America and the Caribbean

CSO

Civil Society Organizations

FAO

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Food-EPI

Healthy Food Environment Policy Index

GOV

Government institutions

IBFAN

International Baby Food Action Network

IDRC

International Development Research Center

INFORMAS

International Network for Food and Obesity/NCDs Research, Monitoring and Action Support

LAC

Latin America and the Caribbean

ML

Multilateral organizations

NCDs

Noncommunicable Diseases

PAHO

Pan American Health Organization

SDGs

Sustainable Development Goals

UNICEF

United Nations Children's Fund

WHA

World Health Assembly

Authors’ contributions

NE, MVL, and VI contributed to the study concept, drafting, data analysis, and interpretation of results. LVG, LBS, ESB, and MP contributed to the review and to the development and administration of country-targeted surveys. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript and are responsible for the accuracy and integrity of the work.

Funding

This research was supported by COLANSA through a grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies (www.bloomberg.org) [Grant number 2023-121052] and the Corporación para la Investigación en Nutrición (CINUT) (INTA Universidad de Chile). The funder has no specific role in the conceptualization, design, data collection, analysis, decision to publish, or manuscript preparation. The content of this article is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the official views of Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Data availability

The datasets analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study has been performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The protocol was approved by the ethics committee: “Iniciativa y Reflexión Bioética (IRB)”, (Reference number PRIISABA-BA 13015) in Jun 2024. Participation was voluntary and responses were confidential. Informed consent to participate in the study was obtained from all participants.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.