Dataset Information

Nutritional value of child-targeted food products: results from the Food Quality Observatory.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To characterise the nutritional quality of food products targeted to children, we aimed: (1) to determine if the nutritional composition of child-targeted food products is different from those for the general population and (2) to verify differences in the nutrient content of child-targeted food products between three selected food categories.

Design

The present study is part of the work conducted by the Food Quality Observatory, created in 2016 in the province of Quebec (Canada). Ready-to-eat (RTE) breakfast cereals (n 331), granola bars (n 310) and yoghurts and dairy desserts (n 380) were the food categories analysed.

Setting

Nutritional values and all packaging information were obtained by purchasing every product available in supermarkets, grocery stores and specialty grocery stores. Free sugars were manually differentiated from total sugars for each product. Products were classified according to two targeted consumer groups: children or general population.

Results

The nutrient profile of RTE breakfast cereals, granola bars and yoghurts and dairy desserts targeted to children differed from that of products intended at the general population. Child-targeted RTE breakfast cereals had the least favourable nutritional composition, with significantly higher content of carbohydrates, total sugars, free sugars and Na compared with breakfast cereals for the general population as well as child-targeted granola bars and yoghurts and dairy desserts. All child-targeted products analysed contained free sugars.

Conclusions

The current study supports the relevance to further regulate marketing to children on food product packages to ensure that such marketing is not present on food products with poor nutritional quality.

SUBMITTER: Gilbert-Moreau J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10195374 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Nutritional value of child-targeted food products: results from the Food Quality Observatory.

Gilbert-Moreau Joséane J Pomerleau Sonia S Perron Julie J Gagnon Pierre P Labonté Marie-Ève MÈ Provencher Véronique V

Public health nutrition 20210805 16

<h4>Objective</h4>To characterise the nutritional quality of food products targeted to children, we aimed: (1) to determine if the nutritional composition of child-targeted food products is different from those for the general population and (2) to verify differences in the nutrient content of child-targeted food products between three selected food categories.<h4>Design</h4>The present study is part of the work conducted by the Food Quality Observatory, created in 2016 in the province of Quebec ...[more]

PMID: 34348826

Similar Datasets

Project description:Background The food industry advertises unhealthy foods intended for children which in turn fosters poor diets. This study characterized advertising expenditures on child-targeted products in Canada and compared these expenditures between Quebec, where commercial advertising to children under 13 is restricted, and the rest of Canada, where food advertising to children is self-regulated. Methods Advertising expenditures data for 2016 and 2019 for 57 select food categories and five media channels were licensed from Numerator. Products and brands targeted to children were identified based on their nature and the advertising techniques used to promote them. Advertising expenditures were classified as healthy/unhealthy using Health Canada’s nutrient profile model. Expenditures per child capita aged 2–12 years were calculated and expenditures from 2016 were adjusted for inflation. Advertising expenditures were described by media, food category, year, and geographic region. Results Overall, $57.2 million CAD was spent advertising child-targeted products in Canada in 2019. Television accounted for 77% of expenditures followed by digital media (18%), and the food categories with the highest expenditures were candy/chocolate (30%) and restaurants (16%). The totality of expenditures (99.9%-100%) in both Quebec and the rest of Canada in 2016 and 2019 were considered ‘unhealthy’. Across all media channels (excluding digital), advertising expenditures were 9% lower in 2019 versus 2016. Advertising expenditures per capita were 32% lower in Quebec ($9.40/capita) compared to the rest of the country ($13.91/capita). Conclusion In Canada, millions are spent promoting child-targeted products considered inappropriate for advertising to children. While per capita advertising expenditures for these products are lower in Quebec compared to the rest of Canada, they remain high, suggesting that Quebec’s commercial advertising restrictions directed to children are likely not sufficiently protecting them from unhealthy food advertising.

Dataset Information

Nutritional value of child-targeted food products: results from the Food Quality Observatory.

Objective

Design

Setting

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Nutritional value of child-targeted food products: results from the Food Quality Observatory.

Similar Datasets

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