Abstract
Through their purchasing powers, government agencies can play a critical role in leveraging markets to create healthier foods. In the United States, state and local governments are implementing creative approaches to procuring healthier foods, moving beyond the traditional regulatory relationship between government and vendors. They are forging new partnerships between government, non-profits, and researchers to increase healthier purchasing. On the basis of case examples, this article proposes a pathway in which state and local government agencies can use the procurement cycle to improve healthy eating.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References and Notes
New York City. (2012) Local Food Procurement Guidelines, Press Release, http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.c0935b9a57bb4ef3daf2f1c701c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=mayor_press_release&catID=1194&doc_name=http%3A%2F%2F, accessed 3 May 2013.
Briefel, R., Crepinsek, M., Cabili, C., Wilson, A. and Gleason, P. (2009) School food environments and practices affect dietary behaviors of us public school children. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 109 (2): S91–S107.
Fox, M., Dodd, A., Wilson, A. and Gleason, P. (2009) Association between school food environment and practices and body mass index of US public school children. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 109 (2): S108–S117.
Story, M., Kaphingst, K.M., Robinson-O’Brien, R. and Glanz, K. (2008) Creating healthy food and eating environments: Policy and environmental approaches. Annual Review of Public Health 29 (1): 253–272.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC – Healthy Places – Healthy Food – General Food Environment Resources, http://www.cdc.gov/healthyplaces/healthtopics/healthyfood/general.htm, accessed 4 October 2012.
Erdmenger, C. (2003) Introduction. Public purchasing: A new, old policy tool. In: C. Erdmenger (ed.) Buying into the Environment: Experiences, Opportunities and Potential for Eco-Procurement. Greenleaf Publishing, pp. 9–17.
Lember, V., Kalvet, T. and Kattel, R. (2010) Urban competitiveness and public procurement for innovation. Urban Studies 48 (7): 1373–1395.
Bovaird, T. (2006) Developing new forms of partnership with the ‘market’ in the procurement of public services. Public Administration 84 (1): 81–102.
Federal Acquisition Regulation, United States. 48 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 1.
United States Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act of 1974. Federal Acquisition Regulation, 93-400.
De Koninck, C. and Ronse, T. (2008) European Public Procurement Law: The European Public Procurement Directives and 25 Years of Jurisprudence by the Court of Justice of the European Communities: Texts and Analysis [Internet]. Kluwer Law International, http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=T1NefTuyNToC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=%22Resolution+of+the+European+Parliament+of+29%22+%22and+Decision+of+the+Council+of+2+February%22+%22OJ+L+199,+9.8.1993,+p.+84.+Directive+as+last+amended+by%22+&ots=dSWErTxt6S&sig=R_8Kbex4RD0O_k-_oeeCR3riG-I, accessed 11 December 2012.
Noonan, K.G., Sell, K., Miller, D. and Rubin, D. (2013) Government Purchasing to Improve Public Health: Theory Practice and Evidence [Internet]. Public Health Law Research, http://ssrn.com/abstract=2240547; http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2240547, accessed 18 April 2013.
New York City. (2008) Executive Order No. 122: Food Policy Coordinator for the City of New York and City Agency Food Standards United States, http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/pdf/eo/eo_122.pdf, accessed 28 May 2013.
Healthy Food Procurement Policy for New York State. (2012) The New York Academy of Medicine, http://www.nyam.org/dash-ny/pdfs/HealthyFoodProcurementPolicy.pdf, accessed 28 May 2013.
Massachusetts. (2009) Executive Order No. 509: Establishing Nutrition Standards for Food Purchased and Served by State Agencies, http://www.mass.gov/governor/docs/executive-orders/executive-order-509.pdf, accessed 28 May 2013.
Massachusetts. (2009) Executive Order 509: Nutrition Standards for State Agencies. Fact sheet produced by Wellness Unit, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/com-health/nutrition-phys-activity/eo509-fact-sheets.pdf, accessed 28 May 2013.
Gase, L.N., Kuo, T., Dunet, D., Schmidt, S.M., Simon, P.A. and Fielding, J.E. (2011) Estimating the potential health impact and costs of implementing a local policy for food procurement to reduce the consumption of sodium in the county of los angeles. American Journal of Public Health 101 (8): 1501–1507.
Gase, L.N., Kuo, T., Simon, P.A. and Dunet, D.O. (2009) Facilitators and Barriers to Implementing a Local Policy to Reduce Sodium Consumption in the County of Los Angeles Government, California. Preventing Chronic Disease: 8(2), http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3073426/, accessed 7 October 2012.
Abate, G., Brayley, D., Conner, D. and Modzelewski, M. (2010) Learnings from the Lab: Improving Milk in Saint Paul, Minnesota, http://www.schoolfoodfocus.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Learnings-from-the-Lab-Milk-with-survey-results-and-memo.pdf, accessed 28 May 2013.
Indiana Department of Corrections. (2009) IDOC Implements Healthier Diet for Offenders, http://70.86.18.251/cms/docs/terre/Robinsonetal1985science.pdf, accessed 5 October 2012.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Requirements included in government purchasing constitute a creative way to influence supplier behavior, affecting both sales to government and in the broader market for their products.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Noonan, K., Miller, D., Sell, K. et al. A procurement-based pathway for promoting public health: Innovative purchasing approaches for state and local government agencies. J Public Health Pol 34, 528–537 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1057/jphp.2013.30
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/jphp.2013.30