Table 1 Description of the food environment characteristics monitored for each domain within the adapted INFORMAS monitoring framework used in this study [4]

Food retail

Aims to monitor the geographic patterning of retail food outlets at the community level and the availability, placement and promotion of foods at the consumer level (in-store and in restaurants)

Food marketing

Aims to monitor the extent and nature of food marketing that population groups (especially children) are exposed to across various media and settings

Food composition

Aims to monitor the nutrient composition (e.g., sodium, saturated fat, sugar, and energy levels) and the nutritional quality of the food supply in food retail (e.g., supermarkets) or services settings (e.g., quick-service restaurants)

Food provision

Aims to monitor the foods provided or sold in key public sector settings (e.g., schools, hospitals and recreation and sport settings) and compile information on existing food or nutrition policies and/or programs and quality of foods provided or sold relative to existing national or sub-national nutrition standards or voluntary guidelines

Food prices

Aims to monitor the price and affordability of foods and diets

Food labelling

Aims to monitor the nature and extent of health-related labelling components on food packaging

Food trade and investment

Aims to monitor the risks to food environments within trade and investment agreements by examining tariffs applied to 'healthy' food vs. 'less healthy' food categories; import and export volumes of 'healthy'/'less healthy' foods; import quotas and commitments regarding agricultural domestic support and foreign investment related to the food processing, retailing, and advertising industry