Browsing by Author "Todd, Melvi"

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    Multi-stakeholder perspectives on food labels and the future of healthy eating
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-12) Todd, Melvi; Joubert, Elizabeth; Guetterman, Timothy; Sigge, Gunnar; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Food Science.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa, like many other countries throughout the world, is grappling with the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, caused in part by an unhealthy diet. This study investigated how changes to the presentation of nutritional information on food labels can potentially help South Africans judge the healthiness of food, thereby potentially guiding them towards healthier choices and beneficial health outcomes. As a point of departure for the study, the value-adding potential of legislating health claims on food labels was considered. Draft legislation to allow health claims have been pending since 2014, and the legislation also does not address any claims pertaining to the health potential of our indigenous food plants, despite notable research spending in this area. Interviews (n = 49) with stakeholders with varied expertise revealed strong evidence for economic value creation potential from health claims, however, this was skewed towards businesses. The findings were less clear about other forms of value and the potential beneficiaries. Developing metrics that people understand and that relate to all forms of value will be required to ensure that health claims on food labels, should they be permitted, do not only benefit a select group of stakeholders. Delving deeper into the question of whether legislating health claims on food labels would be useful for consumers revealed more challenges than opportunities. Persistent impediments to use of the information and unresolved questions about the substantiation and enforcement of health claims were of particular concern. At the same time, no solution appeared apparent for reaching consumers in the informal market with nutritional information. While legislating health claims is not recommended at present, numerous front-of-pack (FOP) label proposals were made by the interview participants. In the final stage of the study, consumers (n = 1 261) were asked to compare FOP labels and a health claim relative to a no-label control, applied to a fictitious cereal product, a commonly consumed processed food in South Africa. Both health warnings and health star rating showed promise in terms of assisting consumers in identifying less healthful products, but effect sizes were largest for the warning label. This outcome requires validation with more product categories, as well as testing in real-world settings. The study culminated with the presentation of a three-phased nutritional labelling strategy for South Africa: ‘Make it clearer’, ‘make it simpler’, ‘make it smarter’ - intended to illustrate the need to take action now whilst simultaneously planning for the future. At a policy level, while South Africa plans for the implementation of FOP labels, we should be actively planning for the labelling of the future – one which will be more technologically enabled. The findings of this study may provide policy-makers and decision-makers, such as the Department of Health, with valuable information about the presentation of nutritional information on food labelling (i.e. selecting FOP labels for further real- world testing), as well as setting the course for the future.
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    Opening the floor for discussion : a perspective on how scholars perceive attitudes to science in policymaking in South Africa
    (ASSAf, 2021-01-29) Czachur, Molly V.; Todd, Melvi; Goncalves Loureiro, Taina; Azam, James M.; Nyeleka, Siphokazi; Alblas, Amanda; Davies, Sarah J.
    Policymakers are a vital group with whom scientific research should be communicated, especially when the reason for many research projects is linked to relevance for socio-political and economic management. Science communication has a vital role in transforming research into policy, and a core element of this process is understanding the target group, namely policymakers. Science and policy influence each other deeply, so researchers and policymakers should improve their understanding of each other and of the processes involved in both fields in order to better collaborate. Accordingly, an in-depth understanding of how scholars perceive policymakers is a precondition for scientists to achieve any desired management and policy impacts. In December 2019, six researchers and one research manager from Stellenbosch University, South Africa, gathered to discuss their understanding of policymakers. The discussion was part of a Science Communication Masterclass hosted by the South African Research Chair in Science Communication and Econnect Communication, Australia. The purpose of the group discussion was to develop a science communication strategy that would enhance the sharing of scientific research outputs with policymakers in South Africa. We explored five questions to help us record our perception of policymakers: (1) Who do we think the policymakers are? (2) How do we think that policymakers perceive research? (3) What concerns do we believe that policymakers have about research? (4) What information do we think policymakers are interested in? (5) What forms of communication do we think policymakers prefer? This Commentary presents our view on how we think researchers perceive policymakers, as discussed in the Science Communication Masterclass. We hope to initiate a discussion around science communication with policymakers, and improve current practices.