This scoping review addresses policy gaps by examining how informality in food environments is defined and empirically studied, and how it intersects with nutrition within livelihood and sociopolitical contexts. A search was conducted across fourteen databases on studies published in English after 2000. From 23,250 records, 327 studies across 64 countries were included. Most research (84%) was conducted in urban settings. Common food products studied included prepared foods, beverages, and vegetables. Key sociopolitical factors influencing informality were regulation, governance, gender dynamics, and access to water, sanitation, and public spaces. Main livelihood challenges included business operations, vendor interactions, and working hours. Results demonstrate that informal food environments are a linchpin for food security and livelihoods in LMICs. Without understanding informal food environment actors from an interdisciplinary and multidimensional perspective, policies will continue to miss these important food system actors.
Author
