Introduction
To address challenges Canadians face within their food environments, a
comprehensive, multistakeholder, intergovernmental approach to policy development is
essential. Food environment indicators are needed to assess population status and
change. The Ontario Food and Nutrition Strategy (OFNS) integrates the food, agriculture
and nutrition sectors, and aims to improve the health of Ontarians through actions
that promote healthy food systems and environments. This report describes the process
of identifying indicators for 11 OFNS action areas in two strategic directions (SDs):
Healthy Food Access, and Food Literacy and Skills.
Methods
The OFNS Indicators Advisory Group used a five-step process to select indicators:
(1) potential indicators from national and provincial data sources were identified;
(2) indicators were organized by SD, action area and data type; (3) selection
criteria were identified, pilot tested and finalized; (4) final criteria were applied to refine
the indicator list; and (5) indicators were prioritized after reapplication of selection criteria.
Results
Sixty-nine potential indicators were initially identified; however, many were
individual-level rather than system-level measures. After final application of the selection
criteria, one individual-level indicator and six system-level indicators were prioritized
in five action areas; for six of the action areas, no indicators were available.
Conclusion
Data limitations suggest that available data may not measure important
aspects of the food environment, highlighting the need for action and resources to
improve system-level indicators and support monitoring of the food environment and
health in Ontario and across Canada.
You Can’t Find Healthy Food in the Bush: Poor Accessibility, Availability and Adequacy of Food in Rural Australia
