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Abstract
Objective: Some fast food chains have introduced healthier options, however sales data for these menu items are not publicly available. This study aimed to observe healthy and unhealthy meal purchases in Australian fast food stores.
Methods: An observational study was conducted comparing the purchases of healthy and unhealthy meals at 20 McDonald's stores in a variety of socio-economic areas in New South Wa les, Australia. Data collection occurred at lunch and dinner times over a two-week period that included both the school holidays and term time. Purchases of Heart FoundationTick Approved (healthy), standard menu items (unhealthy) and take-away meals (healthfulness unobservable due to take-away bags) were recorded. Chi-square and Fisher's Exact Tests were used to assess differences in purchases.
Results: There were 1 ,449 meal purchases observed, of which 1 % were healthy, 65% were unhealthy and 34% were take-away. There were no statistically significant differences in the purchases of healthy meals by socioeconomic status area, weekdays compared to weekends, school term compared to school holidays, or at lunch compared to dinnertime.
Conclusions: Although the provision of healthy fast food options is commendable, this research shows that only a minority of Australians are purchasing them.
Key words: fast food, nutritional composition, reformulation, public health
Health Promotion Journal of Australia 2012; 23: 37-41
So what?
As most Australians are purchasing unhealthy fast food options, there is an ongoing need to reformulate regular menu items to improve their nutritional profile. Increased promotion of healthy menu items may increase their sales. The large number of eat-in purchases highlights an opportunity for in-store consumer nutrition education, potentially using interpretive nutrition labelling on menu boards.
Introduction
Recent surveys have shown that 35% of Australian adults are overweight and 21 %are obese.' Long-term, regular consumption of fast food has been linked to weight gain through over-consumption of high energy density foods and large portion sizes.23 Australian studies have found that fast foods are high in total and saturated fat and sodium,4 and that the average fast food meal provides approximately half of an adult's daily energy requirement.5
Responding to consumer health concerns, some fast food chains have introduced healthier alternatives.6·7 One Australian study found that healthier fast food options contained 39-80% less of the recommended daily amount of fat...