A Case Study of Changes in the Healthiness, Equity, and Environmental Sustainability of an Australian University Food Environment: Findings from Two Audits Using the Uni-Food Tool (2022–2025)

This case study aimed to benchmark the healthiness, equity, and environmental sustainability of a large, urban Australian university food environment through two audits conducted in 2022 and 2025. Two cross-sectional audits were completed at a large urban university campus using the Uni-Food tool, which assesses 68 best practice indicators across three components: policy, campus facilities, and food retail outlets. Four assessors independently conducted the audits with excellent inter-rater reliability (Cohen’s Kappa = 0.89). Final scores out of 100 were calculated using weighted domains. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to compare changes over time. In 2025, the university achieved a score of 52%, up from 48% in 2022, indicating medium compliance with best practice standards. Findings highlight that scores differed modestly but there were persistent gaps in university food policy and practice. Specifically, the policy component remained low (48%), demonstrating strong overall planning but a lack in food retail policy and monitoring systems. The campus component scored moderately (63%), with various nutrition knowledge-building opportunities and environmental sustainability initiatives available but heavy promotion of unhealthy foods at campus events. The food retail component scored lowest overall (36%), especially as there was a lack of adequate nutrition information provided at food outlets. Continued investment in policy development, campus-wide strategies, and food retail innovation is essential to create healthier, more equitable, and environmentally sustainable food environments in tertiary settings.