Supporting healthy diets: a case study-based framework for healthier out-of-home foods

Overview

Out-of-home foods are a popular feature in South-East Asian countries, with street foods and kiosks supplying a large proportion of the daily food intake of populations. With urbanization, the trend of out-of-home food consumption is increasing, and include street foods, online food deliveries and restaurant foods. The food and beverages that are part of the out-of-home food environment are generally high in salt, sugar and fat, and contribute to overweight/obesity and dietary risk of NCDs.

While the focus of country food control systems on out-of-home foods have been on food safety, the healthfulness of such foods needs further attention.

This case study based framework is a progression in the work initiated through a FAO WHO meeting on informal foods held in Bangkok in 2019, and it highlights the basic actions needed to improve the quality of foods sold out-of-home.