Unravelling the persistent problem of unhealthy diets: A system analysis of the Dutch food retail system

Cédric N.H. Middel, Joreintje D. Mackenbach, Tobias Kuijt, Lotte Levelt, Jacqueline E.W. Broerse, Tjerk Jan Schuitmaker-Warnaar

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Unhealthy food retail environments are the result of systemic factors responsible for historical successes in food retail. Through historical literature and interviews with present-day stakeholders in the Dutch food retail system, four important dynamics were identified: The self-reinforcing consumer landscape that prioritises low prices and convenience; the prioritisation of commercial interests in the food retail regime and its perversion of health promotion efforts; the gridlocked food retail market maintained by neoliberal thinking; and the role of major food industry brands in creating consumer demand for and in-store availability of unhealthy products.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)573-590
Number of pages18
JournalInternational Journal on Food System Dynamics
Volume15
Issue number6
Early online dateNov 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© (2024), (CentMa GmbH). All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • cardiovascular diseases
  • food environment
  • Food stores
  • obesity
  • supermarkets

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