Global Obesity Centre (GLOBE), Centre for Population Health Research, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia.
Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Be Active Sleep Eat (BASE) Facility, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Notting Hill, VIC 3168, Australia.
Health Promot Int. 2019 Aug 1;34(4):677-686. doi: 10.1093/heapro/day025.
School canteens have an important role in modelling a healthy food environment. Price is a strong predictor of food and beverage choice. This study compared the relative price of healthy and less healthy lunch and snack items sold within Australian school canteens. A convenience sample of online canteen menus from five Australian states were selected (100 primary and 100 secondary schools). State-specific canteen guidelines were used to classify menu items into 'green' (eat most), 'amber' (select carefully) and 'red' (not recommended in schools). The price of the cheapest 'healthy' lunch (vegetable-based 'green') and snack ('green' fruit) item was compared to the cheapest 'less healthy' ('amber/red') lunch and snack item, respectively, using an un-paired t-test. The relative price of the 'healthy' items and the 'less healthy' items was calculated to determine the proportion of schools that sold the 'less healthy' item cheaper. The mean cost of the 'healthy' lunch items was greater than the 'less healthy' lunch items for both primary (AUD $0.70 greater) and secondary schools ($0.50 greater; p < 0.01). For 75% of primary and 57% of secondary schools, the selected 'less healthy' lunch item was cheaper than the 'healthy' lunch item. For 41% of primary and 48% of secondary schools, the selected 'less healthy' snack was cheaper than the 'healthy' snack. These proportions were greatest for primary schools located in more, compared to less, disadvantaged areas. The relative price of foods sold within Australian school canteens appears to favour less healthy foods. School canteen healthy food policies should consider the price of foods sold.
学校食堂在塑造健康的食物环境方面发挥着重要作用。价格是食品和饮料选择的重要预测因素。本研究比较了澳大利亚学校食堂出售的健康和不太健康的午餐和零食的相对价格。从澳大利亚五个州选择了便利样本的在线食堂菜单（100 所小学和 100 所中学）。使用州特定的食堂指南将菜单项目分为“绿色”（多数食用）、“琥珀色”（仔细选择）和“红色”（不建议在学校食用）。使用未配对 t 检验比较最便宜的“健康”午餐（基于蔬菜的“绿色”）和零食（“绿色”水果）项目与最便宜的“不太健康”（“琥珀色/红色”）午餐和零食项目的价格。计算“健康”项目和“不太健康”项目的相对价格，以确定出售“不太健康”项目更便宜的学校比例。对于小学（AUD$0.70 更高）和中学（AUD$0.50 更高；p<0.01），“健康”午餐项目的平均成本均高于“不太健康”午餐项目。对于 75%的小学和 57%的中学，选择的“不太健康”午餐项目比“健康”午餐项目便宜。对于 41%的小学和 48%的中学，选择的“不太健康”零食比“健康”零食便宜。对于位于较不利地区的小学和中学，这些比例更大。澳大利亚学校食堂出售的食品的相对价格似乎有利于不太健康的食品。学校食堂健康食品政策应考虑所售食品的价格。
