The HYPE study found general support from stakeholders for adoption of a healthy food and drink policy in public sector settings in Aotearoa New Zealand. It also found that:
- the NHFDP was adopted by less than half of public health sector organisations and was not fully implemented by any of the 20 organisations studied
- there were some improvements in the relative healthiness of foods and drinks in four DHBs, and staff noticed more healthy options were available
- the voluntary nature of the NHFPD and the lack of funding and supportive tools and resources were significant barriers to its implementation
- there was a perception that the adoption and implementation of the NHFDP was not a priority for policy makers or organisational management, and the lack of consequences for non-adherence meant that many food providers did not fully adopt the NHFDP due to concerns that adherence could impact adversely on food sales
- staff and visitors generally considered that healthier options were more expensive, and the groups most affected by this were Māori staff, Pacific staff, shift workers, and low-income staff and visitors.
The HYPE team concluded that a voluntary policy was not effective in ensuring provision of healthy food and drink options in New Zealand health sector organisations.
It recommended that a mandatory policy be implemented across all healthcare organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand and identified the following elements needed for more equitable implementation and impact:
- funding, tools and resources to support policy implementation
- more engagement and communication with food providers, staff and visitors
- efforts to ensure that healthy options are attractive, appealing and good value for money.
