A pricing strategy to promote low-fat snack choices through vending machines.

American Journal of Public HealthPublished 1 May 1997Open access

Simone A. French, Robert W. Jeffery, Mary Story, Peter J. Hannan, M Snyder

DOI10.2105/ajph.87.5.849

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Citations244

SJR quartileQ1

SJR score1.93

SNIP1.60

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TL;DR

Reducing relative prices may be effective in promoting lower-fat food choices in the population and Vending machines may be a feasible method for implementing such nutrition interventions.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the role of price on purchases of low-fat snacks from vending machines. METHODS: Sales of low-fat and regular snacks were monitored in nine vending machines during a 4-week baseline, a 3-week intervention in which prices of low-fat snacks were reduced 50%, and 3 weeks postintervention. RESULTS: The proportion of low-fat snacks purchased was 25.7%, 45.8%, and 22.8% in the three periods, respectively. Total snack purchases did not vary by period. CONCLUSIONS: Reducing relative prices may be effective in promoting lower-fat food choices in the population. Vending machines may be a feasible method for implementing such nutrition interventions.

Keywords

MedicineBusiness, Management and Accounting

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