Update: This page is an archive of the Food-EPI Canada 2017 and Local Food-EPI 2019 assessments of government policies and actions to create healthier food environments. For newer research and reports on Canadian food environments, including Food-EPI Canada 2023, please visit the INFORMAS Canada publications page.
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Food environments are shaped by government policies and actions across multiple levels of jurisdiction. Policies related to food labelling, marketing, pricing, procurement, retail, school food, and food-service settings can influence the availability, affordability, promotion, and nutritional quality of foods and beverages.
The L’Abbé Lab has contributed to research using the Healthy Food Environment Policy Index, known as Food-EPI, to evaluate how governments are creating healthier food environments and to identify priority areas for policy action.
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Food-EPI Canada 2017
Food-EPI Canada 2017 evaluated policies and actions that federal, provincial, and territorial governments were taking to create healthier food environments in Canada. The project identified current policy gaps and priority areas for action to support healthier diets among the Canadian population.
Final Reports
Summary Report (Federal, Provincial and Territorial results)
Alberta Report
British Columbia Report
Manitoba Report
New Brunswick Report
Newfoundland & Labrador Report
Northwest Territories Report
Nova Scotia Report
Ontario Report
Prince Edward Island Report
Quebec Report
Saskatchewan Report
Yukon Report
Evidence Documents
These documents summarize food environment policies in each jurisdiction and were verified, to the extent possible, by relevant government stakeholders and policy experts.
Alberta Evidence Document
British Columbia Evidence Document
Manitoba Evidence Document
New Brunswick Evidence Document
Newfoundland & Labrador Evidence Document
Northwest Territories Evidence Document
Nova Scotia Evidence Document
Ontario Evidence Document
Prince Edward Island Evidence Document
Quebec Evidence Document
Saskatchewan Evidence Document
Yukon Evidence Document
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Local Food-EPI 2019
Local and regional governments can play an important role in creating healthier food environments through policies and programs related to municipal facilities, schools, recreation settings, public health, planning, procurement, and community food environments.
Local Food-EPI 2019 extended the Food-EPI approach to the municipal level. This research evaluated policies and actions that three Ontario municipal or regional governments were taking to create healthier food environments and identified priority areas for local policy action.
Final Reports
Evidence Documents
These documents summarize food environment policies in each jurisdiction and were verified, to the extent possible, by relevant government stakeholders and policy experts.
City of Toronto Evidence Document
Region of Peel Evidence Document
City of Greater Sudbury Evidence Document
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Related Work
BIA-Obesity Canada complements the L’Abbé Lab’s Food-EPI work by assessing private-sector food company policies and commitments, while Food-EPI assesses government policies and actions to create healthier food environments.
