Women Consumers’ Views on Legislation to Restrict Prominent Placement and Multibuy Promotions of High Fat, Sugar, and Salt Products in England: A Qualitative Perspective
Background As part of the childhood obesity strategy, the UK Government has introduced regulations to restrict the ways high fat salt and sugar (HFSS) products can be promoted in retail settings from October 2022. This study explored (i) consumers’ views on the likely impact of the UK legislation r...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Kerman University of Medical Sciences
2023-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Health Policy and Management |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.ijhpm.com/article_4492_13e654bdeedac529d1473e9a0958927c.pdf |
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| author | Preeti Dhuria Sarah Muir Wendy Lawrence Emma Roe Sarah Crozier Cyrus Cooper Janis Baird Christina Vogel |
| author_facet | Preeti Dhuria Sarah Muir Wendy Lawrence Emma Roe Sarah Crozier Cyrus Cooper Janis Baird Christina Vogel |
| author_sort | Preeti Dhuria |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background As part of the childhood obesity strategy, the UK Government has introduced regulations to restrict the ways high fat salt and sugar (HFSS) products can be promoted in retail settings from October 2022. This study explored (i) consumers’ views on the likely impact of the UK legislation restricting the placement and promotion of HFSS products on their shopping behaviours and (ii) consumers’ beliefs about who is responsible for healthy eating.Methods Using a cross-sectional study design, qualitative semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of women who shopped at a discount supermarket. Thematic analysis was employed to identify key themes.Results Participants’ (n = 34) had a median age of 35 years and over half were in paid employment. Five themes were identified: (1) The legislation is acceptable, but people can still (and should be able to) buy HFSS items; (2) The legislation is likely to have more impact on shoppers who do not plan their shopping; (3) Affordability of healthy food is just as, or more, important than the legislation; (4) It’s up to the individual to eat healthily; and (5) Government and retailers can better support consumers to make healthy choices.Conclusion Most participants were optimistic about the incoming regulations and believed that it would support consumers to make healthier food choices. Many raised concerns, however, that the high price of healthy foods and continued availability of unhealthy foods within the stores could undermine the legislation’s benefits. Coupling the legislation with interventions to promote and reduce the costs of healthier products would go some way to ensure its success. Raising awareness about marketing strategies that play into consumer concerns for cost and autonomy could further increase acceptance of the policy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T09:05:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7903ce7c546c41ff83f46c716804f635 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2322-5939 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T09:05:11Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Kerman University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Health Policy and Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-7903ce7c546c41ff83f46c716804f6352024-04-15T19:04:25ZengKerman University of Medical SciencesInternational Journal of Health Policy and Management2322-59392023-12-0112Issue 11910.34172/ijhpm.2023.75974492Women Consumers’ Views on Legislation to Restrict Prominent Placement and Multibuy Promotions of High Fat, Sugar, and Salt Products in England: A Qualitative PerspectivePreeti Dhuria0Sarah Muir1Wendy Lawrence2Emma Roe3Sarah Crozier4Cyrus Cooper5Janis Baird6Christina Vogel7Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UKMedical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UKMedical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UKSchool of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UKMedical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UKMedical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UKMedical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UKCentre for Food Policy, City, University of London, London, UKBackground As part of the childhood obesity strategy, the UK Government has introduced regulations to restrict the ways high fat salt and sugar (HFSS) products can be promoted in retail settings from October 2022. This study explored (i) consumers’ views on the likely impact of the UK legislation restricting the placement and promotion of HFSS products on their shopping behaviours and (ii) consumers’ beliefs about who is responsible for healthy eating.Methods Using a cross-sectional study design, qualitative semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of women who shopped at a discount supermarket. Thematic analysis was employed to identify key themes.Results Participants’ (n = 34) had a median age of 35 years and over half were in paid employment. Five themes were identified: (1) The legislation is acceptable, but people can still (and should be able to) buy HFSS items; (2) The legislation is likely to have more impact on shoppers who do not plan their shopping; (3) Affordability of healthy food is just as, or more, important than the legislation; (4) It’s up to the individual to eat healthily; and (5) Government and retailers can better support consumers to make healthy choices.Conclusion Most participants were optimistic about the incoming regulations and believed that it would support consumers to make healthier food choices. Many raised concerns, however, that the high price of healthy foods and continued availability of unhealthy foods within the stores could undermine the legislation’s benefits. Coupling the legislation with interventions to promote and reduce the costs of healthier products would go some way to ensure its success. Raising awareness about marketing strategies that play into consumer concerns for cost and autonomy could further increase acceptance of the policy.https://www.ijhpm.com/article_4492_13e654bdeedac529d1473e9a0958927c.pdfsupermarket environmentobesityuk food policyhfss regulationsfood shopping behaviours |
| spellingShingle | Preeti Dhuria Sarah Muir Wendy Lawrence Emma Roe Sarah Crozier Cyrus Cooper Janis Baird Christina Vogel Women Consumers’ Views on Legislation to Restrict Prominent Placement and Multibuy Promotions of High Fat, Sugar, and Salt Products in England: A Qualitative Perspective International Journal of Health Policy and Management supermarket environment obesity uk food policy hfss regulations food shopping behaviours |
| title | Women Consumers’ Views on Legislation to Restrict Prominent Placement and Multibuy Promotions of High Fat, Sugar, and Salt Products in England: A Qualitative Perspective |
| title_full | Women Consumers’ Views on Legislation to Restrict Prominent Placement and Multibuy Promotions of High Fat, Sugar, and Salt Products in England: A Qualitative Perspective |
| title_fullStr | Women Consumers’ Views on Legislation to Restrict Prominent Placement and Multibuy Promotions of High Fat, Sugar, and Salt Products in England: A Qualitative Perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Women Consumers’ Views on Legislation to Restrict Prominent Placement and Multibuy Promotions of High Fat, Sugar, and Salt Products in England: A Qualitative Perspective |
| title_short | Women Consumers’ Views on Legislation to Restrict Prominent Placement and Multibuy Promotions of High Fat, Sugar, and Salt Products in England: A Qualitative Perspective |
| title_sort | women consumers views on legislation to restrict prominent placement and multibuy promotions of high fat sugar and salt products in england a qualitative perspective |
| topic | supermarket environment obesity uk food policy hfss regulations food shopping behaviours |
| url | https://www.ijhpm.com/article_4492_13e654bdeedac529d1473e9a0958927c.pdf |
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