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Assessing ‘fun foods’: nutritional content and analysis of supermarket foods targeted at children
Author(s) -
Elliott C.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
obesity reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.845
H-Index - 162
eISSN - 1467-789X
pISSN - 1467-7881
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-789x.2007.00418.x
Subject(s) - product (mathematics) , food science , quality (philosophy) , added sugar , sugar , nutrition labeling , food products , food packaging , packaging and labeling , environmental health , food labelling , business , nutrition facts label , labelling , medicine , marketing , psychology , mathematics , chemistry , philosophy , geometry , epistemology , criminology
Summary This article provides a nutritional profile of foods targeted specifically at children in the Canadian supermarket. Excluding confectionery, soft drinks and bakery items, 367 products were assessed for their nutritional composition. The article examines the relationship between ‘fun food’ images/messages, product claims and actual product nutrition. Among other findings, it concludes that approximately 89% of the products analysed could be classified as of poor nutritional quality owing to high levels of sugar, fat and/or sodium. Policy considerations need to be made in light of the fact that ‘fun food’ is a unique category that poses special challenges; as such, recommendations regarding food labelling and packaging are presented.