A citizens’ jury on regulation of McDonald's products and operations in Australia in response to a corporate health impact assessment

Abstract

Objectives: 1) To report outcomes from a citizens’ jury examining regulatory responses to the health impacts of McDonald's Australia; 2) To determine the value of using citizens’ juries to develop policy recommendations based on the findings of health impact assessment of transnational corporations (TNCs). Methods: A citizens’ jury engaged 15 randomly selected and demographically representative jurors from metropolitan Adelaide to deliberate on the findings of a Corporate Health Impact Assessment, and to decide on appropriate policy actions. Results: Jurors unanimously called for government regulation to ensure that transnational fast food corporations pay taxes on profits in the country of income. A majority (two-thirds) also recommended government regulation to reduce fast food advertising, and improve standards of consumer information including a star-ratings system. A minority held the view that no further regulation is required of the corporate fast food industry in Australia. Conclusion: The jury's recommendations can help inform policy makers about the importance of ending the legal profit-shifting strategies by TNCs that affect taxation revenue. They also endorse regulating the fast food industry to provide healthier food, and employing forms of community education and awareness-raising. Implications for public health: Citizens’ juries can play an important role in providing feedback and policy recommendations in response to the findings of a health impact assessment of transnational corporations.