Nutrition, food policies

2023

• Erzse, A., Rwafa-Ponela, T., Goldstein, S. et al. What values drive communities’ nutrition priorities in a resource constrained urban area in South Africa?. BMC Public Health 23, 873 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15761-1

  Boachie MK, Goldstein S, Kruger P, Ng SW, Hofman KJ, Thsehla E. Beverage industry’s advertising expenditures and airtimes in South Africa from 2013 to 2019 target children and families. Journal of Public Health Research. 2023;12(2). doi:10.1177/22799036231168207
• Abdool Karim & Bonginkosi Shozi (2023) Is a right to health a means to protect public health? South Africa as a model for a communitarian interpretation of the right to health for the promotion of public health, The International Journal of Human Rights, DOI: 10.1080/13642987.2023.2190584
• Desmond C, Watt K, Boua PR, Moore C, Erzse A, Sorgho H, et al. (2023) Investing in human development and building state resilience in fragile contexts: A case study of early nutrition investments in Burkina Faso. PLOS Glob Public Health 3(3): e0001737. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0001737. Click here to download.
• Erzse A., Abdool Karim S., Rwafa-Ponela T., Kruger P., Hofman K.J.,  Foley L., Oni T., Goldstein S.J. Identifying priority interventions using the Behaviour Change Wheel to improve public primary school food environments in urban South Africa. Abstracts from The Lancet Summit: Childhood obesity and its consequences across the life course. Mar 2023. The Lancet Global Health, Volume 11, S19
• Randall, L., Brugulat-Panés, A., Woodcock, J., Ware, L. J., Pley, C., Micklesfield, L., Mukoma, G., Tatah, L., Dambisya, P. M., Matina, S. S., Hambleton, I., Okello, G., Assah, F., Anil, M., Kwan, H., Awinja, A. C., & Foley, L. (2023). Active travel and paratransit use in African cities: Mixed-method systematic review and meta-ethnography [article]. 28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2022.101558
• Kruger P., A. K. S. (2022). "Responsiveness of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement to diet-related non-communicable diseases: A human rights analysis." AHRLJ 22(1).

2022

• Safura Abdool Karim, Petronell Kruger and Karen Hofman (2022). Some Legal Issues around the Adoption of Simplified Nutrition Labelling in South Africa: An Analysis of Draft Regulation R429. ESR Review #4 Volume 23 2022. p21. Click here to download
• Agnes Erzse, Safura Abdool Karim, Karen Hofman (2022). Why are sugary drinks still sold in schools?
• Erzse A, Rwafa-Ponela T, Kruger P, Wayas FA, Lambert EV, Mapa-Tassou C, Ngwa E, Goldstein S, Foley L, Hofman KJ, Teguia S, Oni T, Assah F, Shung-King M, Abdool Karim S. A Mixed-Methods Participatory Intervention Design Process to Develop Intervention Options in Immediate Food and Built Environments to Support Healthy Eating and Active Living among Children and Adolescents in Cameroon and South Africa. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Aug 18;19(16):10263. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191610263. PMID: 36011902; PMCID: PMC9408217.
• Mbarushimana, V., Conco, D.N. & Goldstein, S. “Such conversations are not had in the families”: a qualitative study of the determinants of young adolescents’ access to sexual and reproductive health and rights information in Rwanda. BMC Public Health22, 1867 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14256-9
• Erzse, A., Karim, S.A., Foley, L. et al.A realist review of voluntary actions by the food and beverage industry and implications for public health and policy in low- and middle-income countries. Nat Food (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-022-00552-5
• Petronell Kruger & Safura Abdool Karim (2022) A human rights-based approach to coercive public health interventions: lessons from the HIV and COVID-19 pandemics, African Journal of AIDS Research, 21:2, 123-131
• Dennill, K. & Rwafa-Ponela, T. (2021). Primary Health Care in Southern Africa: A Comprehensive Approach (4th ed.). Cape Town, South Africa: Oxford University Press. ISBN9780190758752

2021

• Safura Abdool Karim & Petronell Kruger (2021) Unsavoury: How effective are class actions in the protection and vindication of the right to access to food in South Africa, South African Journal on Human Rights, DOI: 10.1080/02587203.2021.2000886 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02587203.2021.2000886
• Petronell Kruger, Safura Abdool Karim, Aviva Tugendhaft & Susan Goldstein (2021) An Analysis of the Adoption and Implementation of A Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax in South Africa: A Multiple Streams Approach, Health Systems & Reform, 7:1, DOI: 10.1080/23288604.2021.1969721
• Stacey N, Edoka I, Hofman K, Swart EC, Popkin B, Ng SW. Changes in beverage purchases following the announcement and implementation of South Africa's Health Promotion Levy: an observational study. The Lancet Planetary Health 2021; 5(4): e200-e8.            https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30304-1
• Hofman, KJ, Stacey, N, Swart, EC, Popkin, BM, Ng, SW. South Africa's Health Promotion Levy: Excise tax findings and equity potential. Obesity Reviews. 2021; 1– 7. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13301
• Gemma Ahaibwe, Safura Abdool Karim, Anne-Marie Thow, Agnes Erzse & Karen Hofman(2021) Barriers to, and facilitators of, the adoption of a sugar sweetened beverage tax to prevent non-communicable diseases in Uganda: a policy landscape analysis, Global Health Action, 14:1, DOI: 1080/16549716.2021.1892307
• Anne-Marie Thow, Agnes Erzse, Gershim Asiki, Charles Mulindabigwi Ruhara, Gemma Ahaibwe, Twalib Ngoma, Hans Justus Amukugo, Milka N. Wanjohi, Mulenga M. Mukanu, Lebogang Gaogane, Safura Abdool Karim & Karen Hofman(2021) Study design: policy landscape analysis for sugar-sweetened beverage taxation in seven sub-Saharan African countries, Global Health Action, 14:1, DOI: 1080/16549716.2020.1856469
• Milkah N Wanjohi, Ann Marie Thow, Safura Abdool Karim, Gershim Asiki, Agnes Erzse, Shukri F Mohamed, Hermann Pythagore Pierre Donfouet, Pamela A Juma & Karen J Hofman(2021) Nutrition-related non-communicable disease and sugar-sweetened beverage policies: a landscape analysis in Kenya, Global Health Action, 14:1, DOI: 1080/16549716.2021.1902659
• Agnes Erzse, Safura Abdool Karim, Anne Marie Thow, Gemma Ahaibwe, Hans Justus Amukugo, Gershim Asiki, Lebogang Gaogane, Mulenga M. Mukanu, Twalib Ngoma, Charles Mulindabigwi Ruhara, Milkah N Wanjohi & Karen Hofman (2021) The data availability landscape in seven sub-Saharan African countries and its role in strengthening sugar-sweetened beverage taxation, Global Health Action, 14:1, DOI: 1080/16549716.2020.1871189
• Charles Mulindabigwi Ruhara, Safura Abdool Karim, Agnes Erzse, Anne-Marie Thow, Sylvere Ntirampeba & Karen J Hofman(2021) Strengthening prevention of nutrition-related non-communicable diseases through sugar-sweetened beverages tax in Rwanda: a policy landscape analysis, Global Health Action, 14:1, DOI: 1080/16549716.2021.1883911
• Safura Abdool Karim, Agnes Erzse, Anne-Marie Thow, Hans Justus Amukugo, Charles Ruhara, Gemma Ahaibwe, Gershim Asiki, Mulenga M. Mukanu, Twalib Ngoma, Milka Wanjohi, Abel Karera & Karen Hofman(2021) The legal feasibility of adopting a sugar-sweetened beverage tax in seven sub-Saharan African countries, Global Health Action, 14:1, DOI: 1080/16549716.2021.1884358
• Hans Justus Amukugo, Safura Abdool Karim, Anne Marie Thow, Agnes Erzse, Petronell Kruger, Abel Karera & Karen Hofman(2021) Barriers to, and facilitators of, the adoption of a sugar sweetened beverage tax to prevent non-communicable diseases in Namibia: a policy landscape analysis, Global Health Action, 14:1, DOI: 1080/16549716.2021.1903213
• Stacey N, Edoka I, Hofman K, Swart EC, Popkin B, Ng SW. Changes in beverage purchases following the announcement and implementation of South Africa's Health Promotion Levy: an observational study. The Lancet Planetary Health 2021; 5(4): e200-e8. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30304-1
• Erzse, A, Goldstein, S, Tugendhaft, A, et al. The roles of men and women in maternal and child nutrition in urban South Africa: A qualitative secondary analysis. Matern Child Nutr. 2021;e13161. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13161
• Popkin Barry M., S. B., Camila Corvalan,  Karen J Hofman, Carlos Monteiro, Shu Wen Ng, Elizabeth C. Swart, and Lindsey Smith Taillie, (2021 (in press)). "Toward unified and impactful policies for reducing ultraprocessed food consumption and promoting healthier eating globally." Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology 9.
• Thow A-M, Erzse A, Asiki G, et al. Study design: policy landscape analysis for sugar-sweetened beverage taxation in seven sub-Saharan African countries. Global Health Action 2021; 14(1): 1856469.

2020

• Public health response to ultra-processed food and drinks. Jean Adams, Karen Hofman, Jean-Claude Moubarac, Anne Marie Thow. BMJ June 2020
• ‘I’d say I’m fat, I’m not obese’: obesity normalisation in urban-poor South Africa. Edna N Bosire, Emmanuel Cohen, Agnes Erzse, Susan J Goldstein, Karen J Hofman, Shane A Norris. Public Health Nutrition June 2020
• The potential health and revenue effects of a tax on sugar sweetened beverages in Zambia. Peter Hangoma, Maio Bulawayo, Mwimba Chewe, Nicholas Stacey, Laura Downey, Kalipso Chalkidou, Karen Hofman, Mpuma Kamanga, Anita Kaluba, Gavin Surgey. BMJ Global Health April 2020
• The potential global gains in health and revenue from increased taxation of tobacco, alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages: a modelling analysis. Tania Banerjee, Shreena Malaviya, Yira Natalia Alfonso, Patrick Wedlock, George Pariyo, Summan, A., Stacey, N., Birckmayer, J., Blecher, E., Chaloupa, F.J., Laxminarayan, R. BMJ Global Health March 2020
• Attitudes and perceptions among urban South Africans towards sugar-sweetened beverages and taxation. Edna N Bosire, Nicholas Stacey, Gudani Mukoma, Aviva Tugendhaft, Karen Hofman, Shane A Norris. Public Health Nutrition February 2020

2019

• Sugar-based beverage taxes and beverage prices: Evidence from South Africa's Health Promotion Levy. Nicholas Stacey, Caroline Mudara, Shu Wen Ng, Corne van Walbeek, Karen Hofman, Ijeoma Edoka. Social Science & Medicine October 2019
• Evidence for high sugar content of baby foods in South Africa. NC Marais, NJ Christofides, A Erzse, KJ Hofman. South African Medical Journal April 2019

2018

• Simulating the impact of excise taxation for disease prevention in low income and middle-income countries: an application to South Africa. Nicholas Stacey, Amit Summan, Aviva Tugendhaft, Ramanan Laxminarayan, Karen Hofman. BMJ Global Health January 2018
• Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Taxes: Industry Response and Tactics. Matthew Du, Aviva Tugendhaft, Agnes Erzse, Karen J Hofman. Yale Journal Of Biology And Medicine June 2018
• Assessment of food environments in obesity reduction: a tool for public health action. Noluthanda Ndlovu, Candy Day, Benn Sartorius, Jens Aagaard-Hansen, Karen Hofman. South African Health Review December 2018
• Capitalising on consumers' sweet spot has dangerous implications. Wits University. Medical Xpress January 2018
• Limitations of the Sugar Tax. Thomas Johnson. Politicsweb January 2018

2017

• The history of the South African Sugar Industry illuminates deeply rooted obstacles for sugar reduction anti-obesity interventions. Alex Myers, David Fig, Aviva Tugendhaft, Jonathan E Meyers, Karen Hofman. African Studies 2017
• Sugary beverage taxation in South Africa: Household expenditure, demand system elasticities, and policy implications. Nicholas Stacey, Aviva Tugendhaft, Karen Hofman. Preventive Medicine December 2017
• Sugary drinks tax passedEyewitness News December 2017
• How the sugar tax will work. Katharine Child. Times LIVE December 2017
• Energy drink consumption and marketing in South Africa. Nicholas Stacey, Corne van Walbeek, Mashekwa Maboshe, Aviva Tugendhaft, Karen Hofman. Preventive Medicine
• December 2017
• The impact of sociodemography, diet, and body size on serum retinol in women 16–35 years of age: SANHANES-1. Whadi-ah Parker, Zandile J Mchiza, Ronel Sewpaul, Nophiwe Job, Lumbwe Chola, Moses Sithole, Demetre Labadarios. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences November 2017
• SA moves one step closer to a sugar tax, and a healthier lifestyle. The Conversation. November 2017
• Smaller soft drink sizes leave bitter taste of shrinkflation Katharine Child. SowetanLIVE October 2017
• Things go smaller with Coca-Cola. FMCG News October 2017
• Excess fat causing multiple amputations. IOL October 2017
• Energy drinks on the rise in SA. Nivashni Nair. Times-LIVE September 2017
• Sugar tax, a small price to pay for saving lives. Independent Online May 2017
• Sugar tax only for the sweetest. Lynley Donnelly.Mail & Guardian February 2017
• Sugar Tax: A bitter debate. Fin 24. February 2017
• Sugar tax debate reaches parliament. Kerry Cullinan. Health-e News February 2017
• Protagonists all in a fizz over sugar-sweetened drinks tax. Liesl Peyper. Biznews February 2017
• Sugar and health in South Africa: Potential challenges to leveraging policy change. Alex Myers, David Fig, Aviva Tugendhaft, Jessie Mandle, Jonathan Myers, Karen Hofman Global Public Health, January 2017
• Fiscal policies for population health in South Africa. PRICELESS SA. January 2017
• Sugary drinks tax reaches Parliament. Kerry Cullinan. Daily Maverick January 2017
• As the price of sugar goes up, consumption will go down. Qama Qukula. 702 January 2017
• Bitter exchanges sour sweet talk. Lynley Donnelly. Mail and Guardian January 2017

2016

• Regulate or motivate? A salt reduction strategy for processed food in South Africa. Jennifer Lindsey-Renton, Karen Hofman, Courtney Sprague. 2016
• The proposed introduction of tax on sugar-sweetened beverages is hopefully going to stop the poor from drinking more sugary drinks which are harmful to their health. Sunday Times 5 October 2016
• How much sugar do we drink in South Africa? Here are the facts. BusinessTech September 2016
• Cost of inaction on sugar-sweetened beverage consumption: implications for obesity in South Africa. Aviva Tugendhaft, Mercy Manyema, Lennert J Veerman, Lumbwe Chola, Demetre Labadarios, Karen J Hofman. Public Health Nutrition, September 2016
• What the InBev merger means for health in Africa. Johanna Hanefeld, Benjamin Hawkins, Cecile Knai, Karen Hofman, Mark Petticrew. BMJ Global Health August 2016
• South Africans have a sweet tooth so shouldn’t say no to a sugar tax. Karen Hofman, Aviva Tugendhaft. The Conversation AfricaAugust 2016
• Economists say sugar taxes likely to be effective. Karen Hofman, Aviva Tugendhaft. Medical Xpress August 2016
• Modelling the potential impact of a sugar-sweetened beverage tax on stroke mortality, costs and health-adjusted life years in South Africa. Mercy Manyema, Lennert J Veerman, Aviva Tugendhaft, Demetre Labadarios, Karen J Hofman. BMC Public Health May 2016
• A moment on the lips, a long term health risk. Northcliff Melville Times 21 May 2016
• Finance Minister proposes "sugar tax" to halt obesity. Greytown Gazette 4 May 2016
• Sweet and sour of dreaded sugar tax. Katharine Child. TimesLIVE 21 April 2016
• Obesity a new threat to population. Independent 30 April 2016
• 26 public health bodies sweet on the new sugar tax. The Star 22 April 2016
• Sugar tax may sweeten way to cut the fat. Daily Dispatch 22 April 2016
• Sugar tax has big benefits. The New Age 22 April 2016
• New sugar tax a sweet solution. Citizen 21 April 2016[KM1] 
• Bring on sugar tax say SA's top health experts. Health24 21 Apr 2016
• South Africa: Sugar tax confirmed for 2017. Aviva Tugendhaft. Celebrating Progress Africa 29 February 2016
• Sugar tax gets sweet support in News24 poll. Health24 26 February 2016
• Sugar tax confirmed for South Africa in 2017. BusinessTech 24 February 2016
• Sugar Tax: A “great move by Treasury”. Xolani Gwala. 702 24 February 2016
• Tax on soft drinks could benefit obese SA. Lynley Donnelly. Mail & Guardian 4 February 2016
• Is a sugar tax really on the cards for SA?Health24 21 January 2016

2015

• Obesity: why South Africans need to can soft drinks. Aviva Tugendhaft, Karen Hofman. The Conversation 24 November 2015.
• Obesogenic Environments: Access to and Advertising of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages in Soweto, South Africa, 2013. Gillian Moodley, Nicola Christofides, Shane A Norris, Thomas Achia, Karen J Hofman. Preventing Chronic Disease October 2015
• Why greater transparency on food packaging should get the green light.
• Aviva Tugendhaft, Karen Hofman. The Conversation, 31 August 2015
• Determinants of Obesity and Associated Population Attributability, South Africa: Empirical Evidence from a National Panel Survey, 2008-2012. Benn Sartorius, Lennert J Veerman, Mercy Manyema, Lumbwe Chola, Karen Hofman. PLoS One June 2015
• Traffic light labels will help in right Food choices. Karen Hofman, Jessie Mandle and Aviva Tugendhaft. Business Day 26 February 2015
• Nutrition labelling: a review of research on consumer and industry response in the global South. Jessie Mandel, Aviva Tugendhaft, Julia Michalow, Karen Hofman. Global Health Action, January 2015
• Soft drinks and juices lead the way to obesity in SA. BusinessTech-19 Dec 2015

2014

• Sweet drinks to dissolve like a lump of sugar Wits Leader 2014
• The cost of obesity. Andile Makholwa Financial Mail December 2014
• Get Coked on juice. Katharine Child. Times Live October 2014
• Empowering healthy food and beverage choices in the workplace. A Tugendhaft, KJ Hofman. Occupational Health Southern Africa September 2014
• The Potential Impact of a 20% Tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages on Obesity in South African Adults: A Mathematical Model. Mercy Manyema, Lennert J Veerman, Lumbwe Chola, Aviva Tugendhaft, Benn Sartorius, Demetre Labadarios, Karen J Hofman. PLoS One August 2014
• Blowing Smoke, Yussuf Saloojee. Business Day August 2014
• SA’s weight war: Sugar gets a kick in the cans. Mail and Guardian August 2014
• Sugar tax mooted to save lives and money. Food Business Africa August 2014
• MEC Mahlangu welcomes 'sugar tax' recommendation. SA Government Online August 2014
• SA Tops in Sub-Saharan Africa with Fatties. Sowetan August 2014
• Sugar tax on drinks may reduce obesity. Wits University August 2014
• SA is failing to escape global trend to obesity. BD Live May 2014
• Benefits of salt reduction in South African foodNutrition Society May 2014
• Government considers ‘sugar tax’ for South Africa. Daily Dispatch February 2014
• State ponders 'sugar tax' to fight cancer. BD Live February 2014
• SA mulls soft drink tax in war on sugar. Daily Dispatch January 2014
• Bitter truth about sugar – it makes our kids fat. Saturday Star January 2014
• Wits researchers take on sugar to fight SA obesity. Saturday Weekend Argus January 2014
• Soft drinks tax could out sugar intake. Herald January 2014
• Soft drink tax takes aim at the sweet life. The Times January 2014

2013

• Successful sodium regulation in South Africa. Karen J Hofman, Richard Lee. World Health Organisation intersectoral case study 2013
• Evidence that a tax on sugar sweetened beverages reduces the obesity rate: a meta-analysis. Maria A Cabrera Escobar, J Lennert Veerman, Melanie Y Bertram, Stpehen M Tollman, Karen J Hofman. BMC Public Health November 2013
• Population health in South Africa: a view from the salt mines. Karen J Hofman, Stpehen M Tolman. The Lancet Global Health August 2013
• Why you can’t resist a crisp. Star April 2013
• State extends deadline for salt content compliance. Tamar Kahn. Business Day March 2013
• Motsoaledi defends strict regulations. Khulekani Magubane. Business Day March 2013
• Obesity in SA tips the scales. Katharine Child. Times Live February 2013

2012

• Reducing the sodium content of high-salt foods: Effect on cardiovascular disease in South Africa. Melanie Y Bertram, Krisela Steyn, Edelweiss Wentzel-Viljoen, Stephen Tollman, Karen J Hofman. South African Medical Journal September 2012
• Health chiefs declare war to take salt away. Independent August 2012
• Demanding the best for all South Africans. K Hofman, K Kahn. PedMed April/May 2012
• Cutting salt content in bread will raise price, bakers say. Business Day July 2012
• Salt – it stands for Simply Add (a) Little Touch. Saturday Star July 2012
• Minder sout in kos sal beroertes voorkom, sê navorsers. Die Burger July 2012
• SA Food’s salt content to be regulated. Sipokazi Fokazi. IOL July 2012
• Regulating salt content ‘will increase price of bread’. Tamar Kahn. Business Day July 2012
• Get healthy – or else. Katherine Child. The Times July 2012
• Wits team helps curb SA’s salt intake. Wits University July 2012
• State wants South Africans to halve salt intake, but allows more time. Tamar Kahn. Business Day July 2012
• Reducing salt content in food will help save lives. Cape Argus August 2012

2011

• Law to cut salt content in South African’s diet. Tamar Kahn. Business Day June 2011