Policy analysis in school meals program : regulation impacts on in-school food fortification

Abstract

This study aims to analyze how various national policies are associated with the implementation of in-school food fortification among countries with school meal programs. The Bayesian Mindsponge Framework was employed on a dataset of government representatives managing large-scale school meal programs in 126 countries. Findings showed that food safety policy and agriculture policy were positively and significantly associated with the in-school food fortification practices. In contrast, school feeding policy and private sector policy had ambiguous relationships with these practices. Nutrition and health policies had a significant negative association with food fortification practices among countries implementing school meal programs.