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Dr Alexandra Jones

Dr Alexandra Jones

Conjoint Senior Lecturer
  • PhD (Medicine and Health), University of Sydney, NSW, Australia (2019)
  • LL.M. (Global Health Law)(Dist), Georgetown Law, Washington D.C. USA (2011)
  • BA/LLB (Hons I), University of Sydney, NSW, Australia (2006)
Medicine & Health
George Institute for Global Health

Alexandra Jones is a public health lawyer and researcher leading a program of work on regulatory strategies to promote healthier, more sustainable diets. Her work uses an innovative mix of law and science to generate evidence that supports policymakers to design and implement policies with maximum public health impact. She works closely with UN agencies, national and state governments, public health and consumer organizations, and academic collaborators to translate evidence into effective action.

Ali’s current research interests include food labelling, composition, pricing and marketing policies. She also supports the Institute’s growing work on the commercial determinants of health. Her PhD explored Australia’s Health Star Rating system and similar front-of-pack nutrition labels used worldwide. Its impact can be seen in important reforms to the Health Star Rating system, and in the terms of international food standards being developed in this area.

Ali has previously worked on global tobacco control, and in health and human rights. She holds a PhD in Medicine and Health from the University of Sydney, a Master of Laws in Global Health Law from Georgetown Law (Washington, D.C.), and a Bachelor of Arts/Law from the University of Sydney. Ali is currently supported by an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellowship.

  • Books | 2014
    , 2014, Regulating Tobacco, Alcohol and Unhealthy Foods, Voon T; Mitchell A; Liberman J, (eds.), Routledge,
  • Book Chapters | 2014
    Davoren S; Mills C; Jones A, 2014, 'Australia', in Regulating Tobacco, Alcohol and Unhealthy Foods: The Legal Issues, pp. 315 - 336,
  • Journal articles | 2024
    Coyle DH; Davies T; Taylor F; Howes K; Pettigrew S; Jones A, 2024, 'Assessing the Policy Implications of Different Definitions for Added Sugars: An Analysis Across the Australian Packaged Food and Beverage Supply', Current Developments in Nutrition, 8,
    Journal articles | 2024
    Dancey J; Reeve B; Jones A; Ferguson M; van Burgel E; Brimblecombe J, 2024, 'The use of private regulatory measures to create healthy food retail environments: a scoping review', Public Health Nutrition, 27,
    Journal articles | 2024
    Dunford EK; Kelly B; Jones A, 2024, 'Could Google Help Curb Online Advertising of Unhealthy Foods to U.S. Children?', American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 66, pp. 64 - 72,
    Journal articles | 2024
    Jones A; Maganja D; Shahid M; Neal B; Pettigrew S, 2024, 'Voluntary versus mandatory food labels, Australia', Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 102, pp. 691 - 698,
    Journal articles | 2024
    Keaney M; Maganja D; Barrett E; Pettigrew S; Jones A, 2024, 'Selective industry adoption of a voluntary front-of-pack nutrition label results in low and skewed uptake: 10-year results for the Health Star Rating', European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 78, pp. 916 - 918,
    Journal articles | 2024
    Nguyen H; Jones A; Barrett EM; Shahid M; Gaines A; Hu M; Pettigrew S; Wu JHY; Coyle DH, 2024, 'Extent of alignment between the Australian Dietary Guidelines and the NOVA classification system across the Australian packaged food supply', Nutrition and Dietetics,
    Journal articles | 2024
    Pettigrew S; Straeuli B; Coyle D; Sacks G; Miller C; Kelly B; Jones A, 2024, 'Addressing the intractable problem of inadequate vegetable consumption', Obesity Research & Clinical Practice, 18, pp. S3 - S4,
    Journal articles | 2024
    Pettigrew S; Sträuli B; Yusoff A; O'Brien P; Bowden J; Jongenelis M; Brownbill A; Chikritzhs T; Petticrew M; Matheson A; Taylor F; Jones A, 2024, '"There's just a lot of numbers and I just want to have a drink": The challenge of communicating the energy content of alcohol products.', Appetite, pp. 107700,
    Journal articles | 2024
    Pineda E; Hernández-F M; Ortega-Avila AG; Jones A; Rivera JA, 2024, 'Mexico's bold new law on adequate and sustainable nutrition', The Lancet,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Barrett EM; Afrin H; Rayner M; Pettigrew S; Gaines A; Maganja D; Jones A; Mozaffarian D; Beck EJ; Neal B; Taylor F; Munn E; Wu JH, 2023, 'Criterion validation of nutrient profiling systems: a systematic review and meta-analysis', American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 119,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Jones A; Shahid M; Morelli G; Howes K; Riesenberg D; Sievert K; Pettigrew S; Sacks G, 2023, 'Chocolate unicorns and smiling teddy biscuits: Analysis of the use of child-directed marketing on the packages of Australian foods', Public Health Nutrition, 26, pp. 3291 - 3302,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Lacy-Nichols J; Nandi S; Mialon M; McCambridge J; Lee K; Jones A; Gilmore AB; Galea S; de Lacy-Vawdon C; de Carvalho CMP; Baum F; Moodie R, 2023, 'Conceptualising commercial entities in public health: beyond unhealthy commodities and transnational corporations', The Lancet, 401, pp. 1214 - 1228,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Ojo AE; Jones A; Okoro CE; Alfa VO; Okoli R; Shedul GL; Orji IA; Osagie S; Chopra A; Van Horn LV; Hirschhorn LR; Trieu K; Taylor F; Howes K; Ilias M; Williams MJ; Tutse-Tonwe V; Neal B; Huffman MD; Ojji DB, 2023, 'Sodium Content and Labelling of Packaged Foods and Beverages in Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study', Nutrients, 15, pp. 27,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Pettigrew S; Alvin Santos J; Miller M; Sudhir Raj T; Jun M; Morelli G; Jones A, 2023, 'E-cigarettes: A continuing public health challenge in India despite comprehensive bans', Preventive Medicine Reports, 31,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Pettigrew S; Jongenelis MI; Jones A; Hercberg S; Julia C, 2023, 'An 18-country analysis of the effectiveness of five front-of-pack nutrition labels', Food Quality and Preference, 104,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Pettigrew S; Santos JA; Li Y; Jun M; Anderson C; Jones A, 2023, 'Short report: Factors contributing to young people's susceptibility to e-cigarettes in four countries', Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 250,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Pettigrew S; Santos JA; Li Y; Miller M; Anderson C; Raj TS; Jones A; Santos JA, 2023, 'E-cigarette-related beliefs, behaviors, and policy support among young people in China', Tobacco Induced Diseases, 21, pp. 1 - 12,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Pettigrew S; Santos JA; Pinho-Gomes AC; Li Y; Jones A, 2023, 'Exposure to e-cigarette advertising and young people’s use of e-cigarettes: A four-country study', Tobacco Induced Diseases, 21,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Pinho-Gomes AC; Santos JA; Jones A; Thout SR; Pettigrew S, 2023, 'E-cigarette attitudes and behaviours amongst 15-30-year-olds in the UK', Journal of Public Health (United Kingdom), 45, pp. e763 - e775,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Rosewarne E; Santos JA; Hart AC; Trieu K; Tekle D; Ide N; Jones A; Ni Mhurchu C; Webster J, 2023, 'Review of national nutrition standards with salt-related criteria for publicly funded institutions around the world', Nutrition Reviews, 81, pp. 647 - 657,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Aguenaou H; Babio N; Deschasaux-Tanguy M; Galan P; Hercberg S; Julia C; Jones A; Karpetas G; Kelly B; Kesse-Guyot E; Kontopoulou L; Labonté ME; Mhurchu CN; Pravst I; Pettigrew S; Riboli E; Salas-Salvadó J; Srour B; Touvier M; Vandevijvere S, 2022, 'Comment on Muzzioli et al. Are Front-of-Pack Labels a Health Policy Tool? Nutrients 2022, 14, 771', Nutrients, 14,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Buse K; Mialon M; Jones A, 2022, 'Thinking Politically About UN Political Declarations: A Recipe for Healthier Commitments—Free of Commercial Interests', International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 11, pp. 1208 - 1211,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Dunford EK; Coyle DH; Louie JCY; Rooney K; Blaxland A; Pettigrew S; Jones A, 2022, 'Changes in the Presence of Nonnutritive Sweeteners, Sugar Alcohols, and Free Sugars in Australian Foods', Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 122, pp. 991 - 999.e7,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Jones A; Bhaumik S; Morelli G; Zhao J; Hendry M; Grummer-Strawn L; Chad N, 2022, 'Digital Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes: a Systematic Scoping Review', Current Nutrition Reports, 11, pp. 416 - 430,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Pettigrew S; Miller M; Santos JA; Brown K; Morelli G; Sudhir T; Jun M; Jones A, 2022, 'Young people's support for various forms of e-cigarette regulation in Australia and the UK', International Journal of Drug Policy, 110,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Rosewarne E; Santos JA; Trieu K; Tekle D; Mhurchu CN; Jones A; Ide N; Yamamoto R; Nishida C; Webster J, 2022, 'A Global Review of National Strategies to Reduce Sodium Concentrations in Packaged Foods', Advances in Nutrition, 13, pp. 1820 - 1833,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Suya I; Lorenzetti L; Lebrun V; Poowanasatien A; Jones A; Pettigrew S; Bhatia T; Kantachuvesiri S; Hanbunjerd K; Vijitsoonthornkul K; Yuan M; Saenyakul P; Kowal P, 2022, 'Rapid review of the front-of-pack labelling schemes in Thailand', World Food Policy, 8, pp. 166 - 184,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Yin X; Ye L; Xin X; Xiang L; Yu Y; Yan R; Wen K; Tian M; Jones A; Pettigrew S; Liu W; Yang Y; Zhang J, 2022, 'Key Stakeholder Perspectives on Introducing a Front-of-Pack Labelling Scheme on Packaged Foods in China: A Qualitative Study', Nutrients, 14,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Yin X; Ye L; Xin X; Xiang L; Yu Y; Yan R; Wen K; Tian M; Jones A; Pettigrew S; Zhang J, 2022, 'Stakeholder Network Analysis for Front-of-Pack Labeling in China', Frontiers in Nutrition, 9,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Egnell M; Seconda L; Neal B; Mhurchu CN; Rayner M; Jones A; Touvier M; Kesse-Guyot E; Hercberg S; Julia C, 2021, 'Prospective associations of the original Food Standards Agency nutrient profiling system and three variants with weight gain, overweight and obesity risk: Results from the French NutriNet-Santé cohort', British Journal of Nutrition, 125, pp. 902 - 914,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Hettiarachchi CA; Wijesinghe SS; Jones A, 2021, 'Information Printed on Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Labels: A Comparative Analysis of Australian and Sri Lankan Legal Framework', OUSL Journal, 16, pp. 9 - 9,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Jones A; Lacy-Nichols J; Baker P; Thow AMT; Martin JE; Daube M; Backholer K; Townsend B, 2021, 'Chapter 5 Disrupting the commercial determinants of health', MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA, 214, pp. S27 - S31,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Jones A; Wu JHY; Buse K, 2021, 'UK's sugar tax hits the sweet spot', The BMJ, 372, pp. n463,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Ndanuko RN; Shahid M; Jones A; Harris T; Maboreke J; Walker A; Raubenheimer D; Simpson SJ; Neal B; Wu JHY; Peters SAE; Woodward M, 2021, 'Projected effects on salt purchases following implementation of a national salt reduction policy in South Africa', Public Health Nutrition, 24, pp. 4614 - 4621,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Pinho-Gomes A-C; Morelli G; Jones A; Woodward M, 2021, 'Association of lactation with maternal risk of type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies', The Lancet, 398, pp. S70 - S70,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Pinho-Gomes AC; Morelli G; Jones A; Woodward M, 2021, 'Association of lactation with maternal risk of type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies', Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 23, pp. 1902 - 1916,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Rosewarne E; Moore M; Chislett W-K; Jones A; Trieu K; Webster J, 2021, 'An Evaluation of the Victorian Salt Reduction Partnership’s Advocacy and Policy Strengthening Strategy', ,
    Journal articles | 2020
    Dekker MR; Jones A; Maulik PK; Pettigrew S, 2020, 'Public support for alcohol control initiatives across seven countries', International Journal of Drug Policy, 82,
    Journal articles | 2020
    Egnell M; Neal B; Ni Mhurchu C; Rayner M; Jones A; Seconda L; Touvier M; Kesse-Guyot E; Hercberg S; Julia C, 2020, 'Prospective associations of four nutrient profiles with weigh gain, overweight and obesity risk', European Journal of Public Health, 30, pp. ckaa166.1285 - V1009,
    Journal articles | 2020
    Huang L; Federico E; Jones A; Wu JHY, 2020, 'Presence of trans fatty acids containing ingredients in pre-packaged foods in Australia in 2018', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 44, pp. 419 - 420,
    Journal articles | 2020
    Jones A, 2020, 'Front-of-pack nutrition labelling to promote healthier diets: current practice and opportunities to strengthen regulation worldwide', European Journal of Public Health, 30,
    Journal articles | 2020
    McLennan A; Jones A; Julia C, 2020, 'WFPHA: World federation of public health associations : Balanced influence is needed for front-of-pack labelling to protect the health of the public.', J Public Health Policy, 41, pp. 102 - 106,
    Journal articles | 2020
    Rosewarne E; Huang L; Farrand C; Coyle D; Pettigrew S; Jones A; Moore M; Webster J, 2020, 'Assessing the healthy food partnership’s proposed nutrient reformulation targets for foods and beverages in Australia', Nutrients, 12, pp. 1346,
    Journal articles | 2020
    Shahid M; Neal B; Jones A, 2020, 'Uptake of australia’s health star rating system 2014–2019', Nutrients, 12, pp. 1 - 13,
    Journal articles | 2020
    Thow AM; Jones A; Huckel Schneider C; Labonté R, 2020, 'Increasing the public health voice in global decision-making on nutrition labelling', Globalization and Health, 16,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Campbell NRC; Webster J; Blanco-Metzler A; He FJ; Tan M; MacGregor GA; Cappuccio FP; Arcand JA; Trieu K; Farrand C; Jones A; Whelton PK; Zhang XH, 2019, 'Packages of sodium (Salt) sold for consumption and salt dispensers should be required to have a front of package health warning label: A position statement of the World Hypertension League, national and international health and scientific organizations', Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 21, pp. 1623 - 1625,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Jones A; Neal B; Reeve B; Ni Mhurchu C; Thow AM, 2019, 'Front-of-pack nutrition labelling to promote healthier diets: Current practice and opportunities to strengthen regulation worldwide', BMJ Global Health, 4, pp. e001882,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Jones A; Thow AM; Ni Mhurchu C; Sacks G; Neal B, 2019, 'The performance and potential of the Australasian Health Star Rating system: a four-year review using the RE-AIM framework', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 43, pp. 355 - 365,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Moore M; Jones A; Pollard CM; Yeatman H, 2019, 'Development of Australia's front-of-pack interpretative nutrition labelling Health Star Rating system: lessons for public health advocates', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 43, pp. 352 - 354,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Niven P; Morley B; Dixon H; Martin J; Jones A; Petersen K; Wakefield M, 2019, 'Add health stars to reduce kilojoules? Effects of health star labelling on the kilojoule content of adults’ fast food meal selections', Obesity Research & Clinical Practice, 13, pp. 98 - 98,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Niven P; Morley B; Dixon H; Martin J; Jones A; Petersen K; Wakefield M, 2019, 'Effects of health star labelling on the healthiness of adults’ fast food meal selections: An experimental study', Appetite, 136, pp. 146 - 153,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Thow AM; Jones A; Schneider CH; Labonté R, 2019, 'Global governance of front-of-pack nutrition labelling: A qualitative analysis', Nutrients, 11, pp. 268,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Baker P; Jones A; Thow AM, 2018, 'Accelerating the worldwide adoption of sugar-sweetened beverage taxes: Strengthening commitment and capacity: Comment on “The untapped power of soda taxes: Incentivizing consumers, generating revenue, and altering corporate behavior”', International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 7, pp. 474 - 478,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Buse K; Marten R; Hawkes S; Alleyne G; Baker P; Baum F; Beaglehole R; Blouin C; Bonita R; Brumana L; Butler J; Capewell S; Casswell S; Castro JL; Chopra M; Clark H; Dain K; Demaio S; Feigl A; Frenz P; Friberg P; Friel S; Glassman A; Gopinathan U; Gostin L; Gruskin S; Hawkes C; Hipgrave D; Johns P; Jones A; Kadandale S; Magnusson R; Marquez PV; McKee M; Meier BM; Monteiro CA; Mwatsama M; Nugent R; Patterson D; Peterson S; Pillay Y; Ralston J; Reddy S; Rivera JA; Singh S; Singh S; Sladden T; Smith R; Sperkova K; Thamarangsi T; Thompson F; Webb D, 2018, 'The how: a message for the UN high-level meeting on NCDs', The Lancet, 392, pp. e4 - e5,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Jayanetti A; Jones A; Freeman B, 2018, 'Pizza, burgers and booze: online marketing and promotion of food and drink to university students', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 42, pp. 110 - 111,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Jones A; Rådholm K; Neal B, 2018, 'Defining ‘unhealthy’: A systematic analysis of alignment between the australian dietary guidelines and the health star rating system', Nutrients, 10, pp. 501,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Jones A; Shahid M; Neal B, 2018, 'Uptake of australia’s health star rating system', Nutrients, 10, pp. 997,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Thow AM; Jones A; Hawkes C; Ali I; Labonté R, 2018, 'Nutrition labelling is a trade policy issue: lessons from an analysis of specific trade concerns at the World Trade Organization', Health promotion international, 33, pp. 561 - 571,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Jones A; Dunford E; Crossley R; Thout SR; Rayner M; Neal B, 2017, 'An evaluation of the healthiness of the Indian packaged food and beverage supply', Nutrients, 9, pp. 1103,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Peters SAE; Dunford E; Jones A; Mhurchu CN; Crino M; Taylor F; Woodward M; Neal B; Ni Mhurchu C, 2017, 'Incorporating added sugar improves the performance of the health star rating front-of-pack labelling system in Australia', Nutrients, 9, pp. 701,
    Journal articles | 2016
    Jones A; Magnusson R; Swinburn B; Webster J; Wood A; Sacks G; Neal B, 2016, 'Designing a Healthy Food Partnership: Lessons from the Australian Food and Health Dialogue', BMC Public Health, 16, pp. 651,
    Journal articles | 2014
    Jones A; Cremin I; Abdullah F; Idoko J; Cherutich P; Kilonzo N; Rees H; Hallett T; O'Reilly K; Koechlin F; Schwartlander B; De Zalduondo B; Kim S; Jay J; Huh J; Piot P; Dybul M, 2014, 'Transformation of HIV from pandemic to low-endemic levels: A public health approach to combination prevention', The Lancet, 384, pp. 272 - 279,
    Journal articles | 2013
    McGrady B; Jones A, 2013, 'Tobacco control and beyond: The broader implications of United States-clove cigarettes for non-communicable diseases', American Journal of Law and Medicine, 39, pp. 265 - 289,
  • Preprints | 2023
    Dancey J; Reeve B; Jones A; Brimblecombe J, 2023, The use of contracts as a form of private regulation to implement and manage healthy vending:  best practice recommendations for effective and sustained interventions,
    Preprints |
    Yin X; Ye L; Xin X; Xiang L; Yu Y; Yan R; Wen K; Zhang J; Tian M; Jones A; Pettigrew S; Liu W; Yang Y, Key Stakeholder Perspectives on Introducing a Front-of-Package Labelling Scheme on Package Foods in China: A Qualitative Study,

Category 1

  • NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellowship 2021-2025 'Regulatory strategies to promote healthier Australian diets' (CIA)
  • NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence 'Healthy Food, Healthy People, Healthy Planet' 2021-2015 (CIG)
  • NIH (US) ' Evaluating the implementation and scale-up of Nigeria's national sodium reduction program' 2020-2025 (Co-Investigator)

Recent Commissioned research

  • VicHealth 'Integrating wellbeing into the business of government: a wellbeing economy approach' 2020-2021 (CIA)
  • WHO SEARO 'Development of monitoring methodologies for diet-related regulatory interventions' 2021 (CIA)
  • WHO 'A scoping review of the impact of digital marketing of breastmilk substitutes' 2021 (CIA)
  • WHO 'Implementation of the Health Star Rating in Fiji' 2019 (CIA)

  • Finalist, Emerging Health Researcher of the Year, BUPA Foundation (2020) ()
  • Winner, John Chalmers Award for Doctoral Research, The George Institute for Global Health (2019)
  • Finalist, Rising Stars in Cardiovascular Disease Research, NSW Cardiovascular Disease Research Network (2018)
  • Winner, 3 minute thesis competition, The George Institute for Global Health (2017)

My Teaching

LAWS3216/JURD7716 Food Law