Relationship between Marketing to Children on Food Labeling and Critical Nutrient Content in Processed and Ultra-Processed Products Sold in Supermarkets in Lima, Peru

Consumption of ultra-processed foods has increased alarmingly, representing a risk to children’s health. Different techniques in marketing to kids (M2K) used on food labels are influencing the purchasing decisions of these products. This study aims to provide useful information about M2K found in la...

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Main Authors: Daniella Torres-Schiaffino, Lorena Saavedra-Garcia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-11-01
Series:Nutrients
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/12/3666
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author Daniella Torres-Schiaffino
Lorena Saavedra-Garcia
author_facet Daniella Torres-Schiaffino
Lorena Saavedra-Garcia
author_sort Daniella Torres-Schiaffino
collection DOAJ
description Consumption of ultra-processed foods has increased alarmingly, representing a risk to children’s health. Different techniques in marketing to kids (M2K) used on food labels are influencing the purchasing decisions of these products. This study aims to provide useful information about M2K found in labeling of food products sold in a supermarket chain in Lima, Peru and to determine its relationship with critical nutrient content. This was an observational, correlational, descriptive study. Data were collected by photographing the front-of-pack (FoP) of 2747 product labels sold in three supermarkets in Lima, but only those that met all the inclusion criteria were evaluated (<i>n</i> = 1092). A relationship was found between the use of techniques in marketing to kids and the level of critical nutrient regarding saturated fat (PR = 0.56; CI95%: 0.52–0.63), total sugar (PR = 1.70; CI95%: 1.64–1.77), and sodium (PR = 1.05; CI95%: 1.03–1.07). Particularly with sugar, the presence of M2K is a risk factor. New regulatory policies for the use of these food labeling techniques should be implemented to improve children’s health at the population level.
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spelling doaj.art-902a8c9ecfc24c489902f9be3ae6e8e92023-11-20T22:44:24ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432020-11-011212366610.3390/nu12123666Relationship between Marketing to Children on Food Labeling and Critical Nutrient Content in Processed and Ultra-Processed Products Sold in Supermarkets in Lima, PeruDaniella Torres-Schiaffino0Lorena Saavedra-Garcia1School of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima 15067, PeruSchool of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima 15067, PeruConsumption of ultra-processed foods has increased alarmingly, representing a risk to children’s health. Different techniques in marketing to kids (M2K) used on food labels are influencing the purchasing decisions of these products. This study aims to provide useful information about M2K found in labeling of food products sold in a supermarket chain in Lima, Peru and to determine its relationship with critical nutrient content. This was an observational, correlational, descriptive study. Data were collected by photographing the front-of-pack (FoP) of 2747 product labels sold in three supermarkets in Lima, but only those that met all the inclusion criteria were evaluated (<i>n</i> = 1092). A relationship was found between the use of techniques in marketing to kids and the level of critical nutrient regarding saturated fat (PR = 0.56; CI95%: 0.52–0.63), total sugar (PR = 1.70; CI95%: 1.64–1.77), and sodium (PR = 1.05; CI95%: 1.03–1.07). Particularly with sugar, the presence of M2K is a risk factor. New regulatory policies for the use of these food labeling techniques should be implemented to improve children’s health at the population level.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/12/3666food labelingmarketingM2Kultra-processed foodchildren
spellingShingle Daniella Torres-Schiaffino
Lorena Saavedra-Garcia
Relationship between Marketing to Children on Food Labeling and Critical Nutrient Content in Processed and Ultra-Processed Products Sold in Supermarkets in Lima, Peru
Nutrients
food labeling
marketing
M2K
ultra-processed food
children
title Relationship between Marketing to Children on Food Labeling and Critical Nutrient Content in Processed and Ultra-Processed Products Sold in Supermarkets in Lima, Peru
title_full Relationship between Marketing to Children on Food Labeling and Critical Nutrient Content in Processed and Ultra-Processed Products Sold in Supermarkets in Lima, Peru
title_fullStr Relationship between Marketing to Children on Food Labeling and Critical Nutrient Content in Processed and Ultra-Processed Products Sold in Supermarkets in Lima, Peru
title_full_unstemmed Relationship between Marketing to Children on Food Labeling and Critical Nutrient Content in Processed and Ultra-Processed Products Sold in Supermarkets in Lima, Peru
title_short Relationship between Marketing to Children on Food Labeling and Critical Nutrient Content in Processed and Ultra-Processed Products Sold in Supermarkets in Lima, Peru
title_sort relationship between marketing to children on food labeling and critical nutrient content in processed and ultra processed products sold in supermarkets in lima peru
topic food labeling
marketing
M2K
ultra-processed food
children
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/12/3666
work_keys_str_mv AT daniellatorresschiaffino relationshipbetweenmarketingtochildrenonfoodlabelingandcriticalnutrientcontentinprocessedandultraprocessedproductssoldinsupermarketsinlimaperu
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