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Maganja D, de Carle M, Davies T, Gómez Donoso C, Scapin T, Cameron AJ, Louie JCY, Huffman MD, Trieu K, Wu JHY. Healthiness of food products promoted through placement strategies in Australian online supermarkets: a cross-sectional study. BMC Med 2024; 22:341. [PMID: 39183272 PMCID: PMC11345970 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03557-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prominent product placement is a core promotional tactic in retail food environments. How this practice has been adapted for online supermarkets, and the extent to which it is applied to healthier and less healthy food products in this setting, is largely unknown. We aimed to investigate placement-type promotions of food products in Australian online supermarkets. METHODS We developed a new method to assess placement promotions and applied it to the online stores of the two largest supermarket retailers in Australia. Each online store was audited across six 'locations' (input prior to data collection), including a randomly selected high socio-economic position area and low socio-economic position area from each of the three largest Australian cities. The names, page locations and type of placement strategy of promoted food products were captured, with product healthiness assessed using the Health Star Rating (HSR) nutrient profiling system. Descriptive statistics summarised the page locations of promoted products and the placement strategies used to promote them, and chi-squared tests applied to compare product healthiness by retailer and socio-economic position. RESULTS We recorded 12,152 food products promoted through placement strategies, 99% of which were eligible for a HSR. Overall, 44% of products promoted through placement strategies were unhealthy. Cross-promotions and recommendations was the most common strategy recorded overall (55.9% of all strategies), and advertisements and site content was the strategy most likely to promote unhealthy products (53.7% of products unhealthy). One retailer was more likely to promote unhealthy products (46% v 43%, p = 0.004) and unhealthy products were more likely to be promoted in more disadvantaged than less disadvantaged locations (45% vs 43%, p = 0.05), though the magnitudes of difference were small. CONCLUSIONS A considerable number of unhealthy products are likely presented to online grocery shoppers in Australia. Public health policies targeting unhealthy food promotions may need to be updated, including with consideration of the different ways that products can be prominently displayed online, to avoid exacerbating risks of diet-related disease and health inequalities. Our novel methodology could be used for ongoing monitoring of online supermarkets in Australia and elsewhere to inform such policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damian Maganja
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Madeleine de Carle
- School of Rural Medicine, Faulty of Medicine and Health, University of New England, Armidale, Australia
| | - Tazman Davies
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Clara Gómez Donoso
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia
| | - Tailane Scapin
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia
| | - Adrian J Cameron
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia
| | - Jimmy C Y Louie
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Department of Nursing and Allied Health, School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Mark D Huffman
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Cardiovascular Division, Global Health Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, USA
| | - Kathy Trieu
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jason H Y Wu
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia
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Lewis M, Herron LM, Chatfield MD, Tan RC, Dale A, Nash S, Lee AJ. Healthy Food Prices Increased More Than the Prices of Unhealthy Options during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Concurrent Challenges to the Food System. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:3146. [PMID: 36833837 PMCID: PMC9967271 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Food prices have escalated due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on global food systems, and other regional shocks and stressors including climate change and war. Few studies have applied a health lens to identify the most affected foods. This study aimed to assess costs and affordability of habitual (unhealthy) diets and recommended (healthy, equitable and more sustainable) diets and their components in Greater Brisbane, Queensland, Australia from 2019 to 2022 using the Healthy Diets Australian Standardised Affordability and Pricing protocol. Affordability was determined for reference households at three levels of income: median, minimum wage, and welfare-dependent. The recommended diet cost increased 17.9%; mostly in the last year when the prices of healthy foods, such as fruit, vegetables and legumes, healthy fats/oils, grains, and meats/alternatives, increased by 12.8%. In contrast, the cost of the unhealthy foods and drinks in the habitual diet 'only' increased 9.0% from 2019 to 2022, and 7.0% from 2021 to 2022. An exception was the cost of unhealthy take-away foods which increased by 14.7% over 2019-2022. With government COVID-19-related payments, for the first time recommended diets were affordable for all and food security and diets improved in 2020. However, the special payments were withdrawn in 2021, and recommended diets became 11.5% less affordable. Permanently increasing welfare support and providing an adequate minimum wage, while keeping basic, healthy foods GST-free and increasing GST to 20% on unhealthy foods, would improve food security and diet-related health inequities. Development of a Consumer Price Index specifically for healthy food would help highlight health risks during economic downturns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meron Lewis
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston 4006, Australia
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Barré T, Pol S, Ramier C, Di Beo V, Carrat F, Bureau M, Bourlière M, Dorival C, Serfaty L, Asselah T, Boursier J, Marcellin F, Carrieri P, Fontaine H, Protopopescu C. Cannabis Use Is Inversely Associated with Overweight and Obesity in Hepatitis B Virus-Infected Patients (ANRS CO22 Hepather Cohort). Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2022; 7:677-689. [PMID: 34648718 PMCID: PMC9587766 DOI: 10.1089/can.2021.0094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection may evolve into cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and this progression may be accelerated by specific risk factors, including overweight and obesity. Although evidence for a protective effect of cannabis use on elevated body weight has been found for other populations, no data are available for HBV-infected patients. Aims: We aimed to identify risk factors (including cannabis use) for overweight and obesity in patients with HBV chronic infection. Methods: Using baseline data from the French ANRS CO22 Hepather cohort, we performed two separate analyses, one using "central obesity" (based on waist circumference) and the other "overweight" and "obesity" (based on body mass index) as outcomes. Logistic and multinomial regressions were used to model central obesity and overweight/obesity, respectively. Results: Among the 3706 patients in the study population, 50.8% had central obesity, 34.7% overweight, and 14.4% obesity. After multivariable adjustment, current cannabis use was associated with a 59% lower risk of central obesity compared with no lifetime use (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI]: 0.41 [0.24 to 0.70]). It was also associated with a 54% and 84% lower risk of overweight (adjusted relative risk ratio [95% CI]: 0.46 [0.27 to 0.76]) and obesity (0.16 [0.04 to 0.67]), respectively. Conclusions: Cannabis use was associated with lower risks of overweight and obesity in patients with HBV chronic infection. Future studies should test whether these potential benefits of cannabis and cannabinoid use translate into reduced liver disease progression in this high-risk population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tangui Barré
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Marseille, France
| | - Stanislas Pol
- Université Paris Centre, Département d'Hépatologie, Hôpital Cochin, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Clémence Ramier
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Marseille, France
| | - Vincent Di Beo
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Marseille, France
| | - Fabrice Carrat
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Département de Santé Publique, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Morgane Bureau
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Marseille, France
| | - Marc Bourlière
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Marseille, France
- Hôpital St Joseph, Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie, Marseille, France
| | - Céline Dorival
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Paris, France
| | - Lawrence Serfaty
- Hepatology Department, Pôle des Pathologies Digestives, Hépatiques et de la Transplantation, Hôpital de Hautepierre-Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Tarik Asselah
- Université de Paris, Centre de recherche sur l'inflammation, INSERM UMR1149, Paris, France
- Department of Hepatology, AP-HP, Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy, France
| | - Jérôme Boursier
- Hepato-Gastroenterology Department, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France
- HIFIH Laboratory, UPRES 3859, SFR 4208, Angers University, Angers, France
| | - Fabienne Marcellin
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Marseille, France
| | - Patrizia Carrieri
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Marseille, France
| | - Hélène Fontaine
- Université Paris Centre, Département d'Hépatologie, Hôpital Cochin, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Camelia Protopopescu
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Marseille, France
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Salmela J, Kouvonen A, Mauramo E, Rahkonen O, Roos E, Lallukka T. Associations of childhood and adult socioeconomic circumstances with recommended food habits among young and midlife Finnish employees. BMC Nutr 2022; 8:65. [PMID: 35836295 PMCID: PMC9281257 DOI: 10.1186/s40795-022-00557-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Disadvantaged socioeconomic circumstances are associated with certain unhealthy food habits such as inadequate consumption of fruit and vegetables. This study examined whether multiple socioeconomic measures are consistently associated with a variety of food habits. Methods We examined associations of 2 childhood and 6 adult socioeconomic measures with 8 recommended food habits among 19–39-year-old employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland. The data were collected in 2017 via online and mailed surveys. Our sample consisted of 4621 employees (80% women). The analyses included adjusted binary logistic regression models. Results More advantaged socioeconomic circumstances were positively associated with the recommended consumption of vegetables, fruit or berries, dark bread, skimmed milk products, fish, and cooking oil, but not consistently with red or processed meat and fat spread. All socioeconomic measures were positively associated with having several (6–8) recommended food habits after gender and age adjustments. The strongest associations were found for participant’s education, occupational class, and current financial difficulties. These associations remained after adjustments of childhood and adult socioeconomic measures, although especially participant’s education attenuated the associations for occupational class. Conclusions The consistent associations between multiple childhood and adult socioeconomic measures and food habits found among employees highlight the need for improving food habits among people with disadvantaged socioeconomic circumstances in particular. Financial barriers together with social aspects of adhering to healthy diets should be considered in future dietary interventions and policy actions. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40795-022-00557-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jatta Salmela
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, PO Box 20 (Tukholmankatu 8 B), 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Anne Kouvonen
- Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Elina Mauramo
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, PO Box 20 (Tukholmankatu 8 B), 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ossi Rahkonen
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, PO Box 20 (Tukholmankatu 8 B), 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eva Roos
- Department of Food Studies, Nutrition and Dietetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tea Lallukka
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, PO Box 20 (Tukholmankatu 8 B), 00014, Helsinki, Finland
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Abstract
The impact of change in socio-economic status (SES) from childhood to adulthood (SES mobility) on adult diet is not well understood. This study examined associations between three SES mobility variables (area disadvantage, education, occupation) and adult diet quality. 1482 Australian participants reported childhood area-level SES in 1985 (aged 10-15 years) and retrospectively reported highest parental education and main occupation (until participant age 12) and own area-level SES, education, occupation and dietary intake in 2004-2006 (aged 26-36 years). A Dietary Guidelines Index (DGI) was calculated from food frequency and habit questionnaires. A higher score (range 0-100) indicated better diet quality. Sex-stratified linear regression models adjusted for confounders. Area-level SES mobility was not associated with diet quality. Compared with stable high (university) education, stable low (school only) was associated with lower DGI scores (males: β = -5·5, 95 % CI: -8·9, -2·1; females: β = -6·3, 95 % CI: -9·3, -3·4), as was downward educational mobility (participant's education lower than their parents) (males: β = -5·3, 95 % CI: -8·5, -2·0; females: β = -4·5, 95 % CI: -7·2, -1·7) and stable intermediate (vocational) education among males (β = -3·9, 95 % CI: -7·0, -0·7). Compared with stable high (professional/managerial) occupation, stable low (manual/out of workforce) males (β = -4·9, 95 % CI: -7·6, -2·2), and participants with downward occupation mobility (males: β = -3·2, 95 % CI: -5·3, -1·1; females: β = -2·8, 95 % CI: -4·8, -0·8) had lower DGI scores. In this cohort, intergenerational low education and occupation, and downward educational and occupational mobility, were associated with poor adult diet quality.
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Lewis M, McNaughton SA, Rychetnik L, Chatfield MD, Lee AJ. Dietary Intake, Cost, and Affordability by Socioeconomic Group in Australia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182413315. [PMID: 34948926 PMCID: PMC8703846 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182413315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Few Australians consume diets consistent with the Australian Dietary Guidelines. A major problem is high intake of discretionary food and drinks (those not needed for health and high in saturated fat, added sugar, salt and/or alcohol). Low socioeconomic groups (SEGs) suffer particularly poor diet-related health. Surprisingly, detailed quantitative dietary data across SEGs was lacking. Analysis of the most recent national nutrition survey data produced habitual intakes of a reference household (two adults and two children) in SEG quintiles of household income. Cost and affordability of habitual and recommended diets for the reference household were determined using methods based on the Healthy Diets Australian Standardised Affordability and Pricing protocol. Low SEGs reported significantly lower intakes of healthy food and drinks yet similarly high intakes of discretionary choices to high SEGs (435 serves/fortnight). Total habitual diets of low SEGs cost significantly less than those of high SEGs (AU$751/fortnight to AU$853/fortnight). Results confirmed low SEGs cannot afford a healthy diet. Lower intakes of healthy choices in low SEGs may help explain their higher rates of diet-related disease compared to higher SEGs. The findings can inform potential policy actions to improve affordability of healthy foods and help drive healthier diets for all Australians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meron Lewis
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston 4006, Australia; (M.D.C.); (A.J.L.)
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, The Sax Institute, Glebe 2037, Australia;
- Correspondence:
| | - Sarah A. McNaughton
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Australia;
| | - Lucie Rychetnik
- The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, The Sax Institute, Glebe 2037, Australia;
- School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Glebe 2037, Australia
| | - Mark D. Chatfield
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston 4006, Australia; (M.D.C.); (A.J.L.)
| | - Amanda J. Lee
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston 4006, Australia; (M.D.C.); (A.J.L.)
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Cost and Affordability of Healthy, Equitable and Sustainable Diets in Low Socioeconomic Groups in Australia. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13082900. [PMID: 34445059 PMCID: PMC8402089 DOI: 10.3390/nu13082900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Few Australians consume a healthy, equitable and more sustainable diet consistent with the Australian Dietary Guidelines (ADGs). Low socioeconomic groups (SEGs) suffer particularly poor diet-related health problems. However, granular information on dietary intakes and affordability of recommended diets was lacking for low SEGs. The Healthy Diets Australian Standardised Affordability and Pricing protocol was modified for low SEGs to align with relevant dietary intakes reported in the National Nutrition Survey 2011–2012(which included less healthy and more discretionary options than the broader population), household structures, food purchasing habits, and incomes. Cost and affordability of habitual and recommended diets of low SEGs were calculated using prices of ‘standard brands’ and ‘cheapest options’. With ‘standard brands’, recommended diets cost less than habitual diets, but were unaffordable for low SEGs. With ‘cheapest options’, both diets were more affordable, but recommended diets cost more than habitual diets for some low SEGs, potentially contributing to perceptions that healthy food is unaffordable. The study confirms the need for an equity lens to better target dietary guidelines for low SEGs. It also highlights urgent policy action is needed to help improve affordability of recommended diets.
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Vega-Salas MJ, Caro P, Johnson L, Papadaki A. Socio-economic inequalities in dietary intake in Chile: a systematic review. Public Health Nutr 2021; 25:1-16. [PMID: 34247696 PMCID: PMC9991770 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980021002937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Understanding the socio-economic inequalities in dietary intake is crucial when addressing the socio-economic gradient in obesity rates and non-communicable diseases. We aimed to systematically assess the association between socio-economic position (SEP) and dietary intake in Chile. DESIGN We searched for peer-reviewed and grey literature from inception until 31 December 2019 in PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Sciences and LILACS databases. Observational studies published in English and Spanish, reporting the comparison of at least one dietary factor between at least two groups of different SEP in the general Chilean population, were selected. Two researchers independently conducted data searches, screening and extraction and assessed study quality using an adaptation of the Newcastle Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. RESULTS Twenty-one articles (from eighteen studies) were included. Study quality was considered low, medium and high for 24, 52 and 24 % of articles, respectively. Moderate-to-large associations indicated lower intake of fruit and vegetables, dairy products and fish/seafood and higher pulses consumption among adults of lower SEP. Variable evidence of association was found for energy intake and macronutrients, in both children and adults. CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight some socio-economic inequalities in diets in Chile, evidencing an overall less healthy food consumption among the lower SEP groups. New policies to reduce these inequalities should tackle the unequal distribution of factors affecting healthy eating among the lower SEP groups. These findings also provide important insights for developing strategies to reduce dietary inequalities in Chile and other countries that have undergone similar nutritional transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Jesús Vega-Salas
- Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, 8 Priory Road, BristolBS8 1TZ, UK
| | - Paola Caro
- School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Laura Johnson
- Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, 8 Priory Road, BristolBS8 1TZ, UK
| | - Angeliki Papadaki
- Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, 8 Priory Road, BristolBS8 1TZ, UK
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Lee A, Patay D, Herron LM, Parnell Harrison E, Lewis M. Affordability of current, and healthy, more equitable, sustainable diets by area of socioeconomic disadvantage and remoteness in Queensland: insights into food choice. Int J Equity Health 2021; 20:153. [PMID: 34193163 PMCID: PMC8243618 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-021-01481-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Poor diet is the leading preventable risk factor contributing to the burden of disease globally and in Australia, and is inequitably distributed. As the price of healthy foods is a perceived barrier to improved diets, evidence on the cost and affordability of current (unhealthy) and recommended (healthy, more equitable and sustainable) diets is required to support policy action. Methods This study applied the Healthy Diets ASAP (Australian Standardised Affordability and Pricing) methods protocol to measure the cost, cost differential and affordability of current and recommended diets for a reference household in Queensland, Australia. Food prices were collected in 18 randomly selected locations stratified by area of socioeconomic disadvantage and remoteness. Diet affordability was calculated for three income categories. Results Surprisingly, recommended diets would cost 20% less than the current diet in Queensland as a whole. Households spent around 60% of their food budget on discretionary choices (that is, those not required for health that are high in saturated fat, added sugar, salt and/or alcohol). Queensland families would need to spend around 23% of their income on recommended diets. However, recommended diets would not be affordable in low socioeconomic or very remote areas, costing 30 and 35% of median household income respectively. The government supplements due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic would improve affordability of recommended diets by 29%. Conclusions Study findings highlight that while price is one factor affecting consumer food choice, other drivers such as taste, convenience, advertising and availability are important. Nevertheless, the study found that recommended diets would be unaffordable in very remote areas, and that low-income families are likely experiencing food stress, irrespective of where they live in Queensland. Policy actions, such as increasing to 20% the current 10% tax differential between basic healthy, and unhealthy foods in Australia, and supplementing incomes of vulnerable households, especially in remote areas, are recommended to help improve diet equity and sustainability, and health and wellbeing for all. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12939-021-01481-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Lee
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, 266 Herston Rd, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia.
| | - Dori Patay
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, 266 Herston Rd, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Lisa-Maree Herron
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, 266 Herston Rd, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Ella Parnell Harrison
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, 266 Herston Rd, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Meron Lewis
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, 266 Herston Rd, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
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