SEARCHSYSTEMATIC_REVIEWpublic health, nutrition

systematic_review·public health, nutrition, dietetics, systematic review, food science·PMC10494020

Policy approaches to nutrition-focused food banking in industrialized countries: a scoping review

Nutrition Reviews · 4 authors, 6 centres

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TL;DR

This scoping review followed PRISMA-ScR guidelines and searched four electronic databases plus gray literature for peer-reviewed articles and documents published between 2000 and October 2021 on policy approaches to nutrition-focused food banking in industrialized countries.

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systematic_review

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public health

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ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10494020

Policy approaches to nutrition-focused food banking in industrialized countries: a scoping review

Nutrition Reviews

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ABSTRACT

Abstract Objective This review aims to synthesize the literature describing policy approaches to nutrition-focused food banking in industrialized countries, spanning the period 2000 to October 2021. Background The charitable food system provides food assistance to increasing numbers of people experiencing food insecurity in industrialized countries. Calls to improve the nutrition quality of foods provided by foods banks, pantries, and shelves have increased, yet little is known about the challenges faced when initiating policy in this setting. Methods A protocol based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for Scoping Reviews Guidelines was developed and registered with Open Science Framework. Four electronic databases (MEDLINE [Ovid], Global Health, ProQuest, and Scopus) were searched for peer-reviewed articles published in English. A gray literature search was conducted using Google Advanced Search. Results Of 642 peer-reviewed articles screened, 15 were eligible for inclusion. In addition, 24 gray literature documents were included. These 39 papers were assessed against the Iron Triangle of Hunger Relief and the Campbell et al framework of organizational factors. Six themes were identified: (1) there is a moral imperative to take action to ensure the provision of appropriate and nutritious food for vulnerable clients; (2) nutrition policies are unlikely to be formalized; (3) the unpredictability of donated food is a barrier to providing healthy foods; (4) reliance on donations affects the sector’s willingness to reduce the unhealthy inventory for fear of losing donors, and the challenges of managing donor relationships were emphasized; (5) organizational capacity (volunteer workforce, executive leadership support) must be considered; (6) the existing measure of success is a weight-based metric that does not support food banks’ prioritizing of healthy foods. These, and other characteristics, were incorporated into an adapted framework. Conclusion There is a need and opportunity for nutrition-focused food banking. A priority action area is the adoption of an outcome metric that is based on nutritional quality, to reorient the charitable food system.

CITATION EXPORT

Sharonna Mossenson, Claire E Pulker, Roslyn Giglia et al.. Policy approaches to nutrition-focused food banking in industrialized countries: a scoping review. Nutrition Reviews. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuad004

AUTHORS

4 · 6 CENTRES

Sharonna Mossenson, Claire E Pulker, Roslyn Giglia, Christina M Pollard

School of Population Health, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
School of Population Health, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
East Metropolitan Health Service, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Foodbank of Western Australia, Perth Airport, Western Australia, Australia
School of Population Health, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
Enable Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia