Introduction: Identify and highlight the problems and challenges associated with the implementation of solutions aimed at combating social marginalization of adult citizens with the use of regional food policy action plans and to define best practices used in attempts at addressing the problem. Methods: For the research, quarterly report data was collected and analysed (532 quarterly reports (from 2006-2016 were included), in total: 191 828 data). The reports were focused on the realisation of the ‘State-Funded Food Aid Programme’ in 2006-2016 in 14 cities from the Upper Silesia Metropolis. For the sake of benchmarking, the following proprietary indices were specially created and calculated: eligibility (E), non-eligibility (NE), receiving various forms of aid, i.e. free daily meal (M), monetary food benefit (MFB) and food benefit in kind (FBK) per 1,000 citizens for all citizens covered by the Food Aid Programme and per 1,000 adult citizens for all adult citizens covered by the Programme. Results: The number of hot meal recipients was directly proportionate to the unemployment rate (r=0,29, p=0,31) and inversely proportionate to a given city’s expenditure per one citizen (r=-0,36, p=0,2). In cities with an unemployment rate below 10%, M< 3, whilst in cities with an unemployment rate >10 %, M ranged from 0 to 25.9. Conclusions: Based on the benchmarking, guidelines have been created which should be taken under consideration during implementation and realisation of public health interventions.

local nutrition policy, benchmarking, nutrition program, poverty, social exclusion