Miranda Blake

Infant food marketing strategies undermine effective regulation of breast‐milk substitutes: trends in print advertising in Australia, 1950–2010

Objective : This study addresses the issue of whether voluntary industry regulation has altered companies’ marketing of breast‐milk substitutes in Australia since the adoption of the World Health Organization (WHO) International Code on the Marketing of Breast‐milk Substitutes 1981.

Validity and reliability of the Bristol Stool Form Scale in healthy adults and patients with diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.

The Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) is a 7‐point scale used extensively in clinical practice and research for stool form measurement, which has undergone limited validity and reliability testing.

Socioeconomic Inequalities in Diet Quality: from Identifying the Problem to Implementing Solutions

In high-income countries, poor diet is both a leading contributor to the burden of disease and strongly socioeconomically and demographically patterned. The many forms of a poor diet, from food insecurity, through a lack of intake of healthy foods to an excess intake of unhealthy food and drink, represent a substantial modifiable driver of inequalities in health and well-being. Here, we review the drivers of these inequalities, with a critical reflection on the interventions most likely to improve inequalities in a healthy diet. Interventions currently exist at the levels of the individual, the community and society that have the potential to improve diet quality across our communities, with greatest benefit for those with greatest need. We conclude that greater attention needs to be paid to the potential impact of specific population nutrition strategies, their sociocultural applicability, their implementation, and their evaluation, if they are to play a significant role in reducing inequalities in diet and health.

Can small stores have a big impact?: A qualitative evaluation of a store fruit and vegetable initiative

ISSUE ADDRESSED The aim of this evaluation was to explore the quality, barriers, enablers and outcomes of a retail fresh fruit and vegetable initiative in rural communities identified to have poor geographic access to healthy food. METHODS A qualitative evaluation using in-depth interviews was conducted with rural store retailers across Victoria involved in the implementation of a retail fruit and vegetable initiative. Data were analysed using a thematic approach. RESULTS Six of the 13 store retailers that were engaged in the initiative identified a range of qualities, barriers, enablers and outcomes. They reported that effective communication is essential for engaging retailers and sustaining participation. The choice and use of retail incentives may influence the communitys purchase of fruit and vegetables. The communitys attitude to fruit and vegetables, the staffs ability to promote produce and the capacity of the store to stock and sell fresh fruit and vegetables influenced perceived success. Barriers included difficulties receiving a regular supply of fresh fruit and vegetables, time constraints and storage facilities. CONCLUSIONS This qualitative evaluation of a retail fruit and vegetable initiative found that effective leadership and communication from project workers, a range of retail incentives and the capacity of the store to promote, stock and sell fresh fruit and vegetables influenced perceived success. SO WHAT?: Fruit and vegetable retail initiatives in small rural community stores may have a role in supporting consumption of fruit and vegetables.

The effect of a change to healthy vending in a major Australian health service on sales of healthy and unhealthy food and beverages

Vending machines predominantly offer discretionary, packaged foods and beverages, high in sugar, saturated fat and/or sodium (Byrd-Bredbenner et al., 2012), and contribute to 4% of sugarsweetened beverage (SSB) intake in US adults (An & Maurer, 2016). Excessive consumption of these types of items has been shown to contribute to weight gain, obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, some cancers, and in the case of SSBs, dental caries (National Health and Medical Research Council and Food for Health Dietary Guidelines for Australian Adults, 2003). Vending machines are consequently recognised as a potential point of intervention to shift the population towards healthier food choices

The effect of sugar-sweetened beverage front-of-pack labels on drink selection, health knowledge and awareness: an online randomised controlled trial

PURPOSE AND AIM Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) provide little nutritional value and are associated with an increased risk of diet-related diseases. Despite this, SSB consumption is high globally. One emerging strategy aimed at reducing SSB consumption involves the use of front-of-pack (FOP) labels that clearly identify the risks associated with SSB consumption. The aim of this research study was to determine whether FOP labels with a graphic warning, text warning, sugar information (with the number of teaspoons of added sugar) or Health Star Rating (HSR) reduces intended choice of a SSB in an online choice experiment with young Australian adults. RESULTS 994 participants were recruited and completed the online choice experiment. Compared to the control group who were not exposed to a label, the graphic warning, text warning, sugar information and HSR labels all significantly reduced selection of a SSB in the choice scenario. The magnitude of effect was greatest for the graphic warning label (OR 0.22 95% CI 0.14-0.35). Compared to the control group, only the HSR label significantly increased selections of the high HSR drinks (OR 2.18 95% CI 1.20-3.97). CONCLUSIONS FOP labels, particularly those with graphic warnings, have the potential to reduce intended SSB purchases. Labels that also identify healthier alternatives may influence consumers to substitute SSBs with healthier drinks.