Unhealthy and inequitable: Online canteen sales do not reflect policy guidance in Victorian primary schools
Objective: The objective of this study was to assess whether top-selling online (e-canteen) sales from Victorian Primary schools reflect canteen policy guidance and describe predictors of sales and cost. Methods: This cross-sectional study used e-canteen sales data from 29 Victorian primary schools....
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| Format: | Article |
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1326020025000366 |
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| author | Anna Nicholson Claire Hardi Rachael Jinnette Maree Scully Helen Dixon |
| author_facet | Anna Nicholson Claire Hardi Rachael Jinnette Maree Scully Helen Dixon |
| author_sort | Anna Nicholson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: The objective of this study was to assess whether top-selling online (e-canteen) sales from Victorian Primary schools reflect canteen policy guidance and describe predictors of sales and cost. Methods: This cross-sectional study used e-canteen sales data from 29 Victorian primary schools. We categorised 425,332 items, assigned a nutritional rating (“Everyday”, “Select carefully”, “Occasionally” and “Never”) to the top 10 items sold and used multivariable regression analyses to explore predictors of sales and cost. Results: Among top-selling items (comprising 95% of sales), 8% were rated “Everyday”, 54% “Select carefully”, 19% “Occasionally”, 7% “Never” and 12% “Unknown”. Healthy (Everyday) sales were higher among schools with less than daily canteen availability, larger size, lower socio-educational position and higher area-level socio-economic position. Unhealthy (Occasionally–Never) sales were higher for special events, regional areas and areas of lower socio-economic position. The average meal price decreased with nutritional rating. Conclusion: There is low policy adherence, with similar sales of foods and drinks categorised as main choices (8%) vs. limited/prohibited (7%). Partial canteen policy implementation is resulting in inequitable nutrition and price outcomes across schools. Implications for Public Health: The current Victorian policy must be strengthened, fully implemented and centrally monitored to support all canteens to contribute to a healthy and equitable school food environment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6352df32e13645d5aa175fb548f0c933 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1326-0200 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-6352df32e13645d5aa175fb548f0c9332025-08-20T05:04:47ZengElsevierAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health1326-02002025-08-0149410025510.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100255Unhealthy and inequitable: Online canteen sales do not reflect policy guidance in Victorian primary schoolsAnna Nicholson0Claire Hardi1Rachael Jinnette2Maree Scully3Helen Dixon4Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria, East Melbourne, Australia; Melbourne School of Global and Population Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Correspondence to: Anna Nicholson, David Hill Research Fellow Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria Level 8, 200 Victoria Pde, East Melbourne, 3002, AustraliaPrevention Division, Cancer Council Victoria, East Melbourne, AustraliaCentre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria, East Melbourne, AustraliaCentre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria, East Melbourne, AustraliaCentre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria, East Melbourne, Australia; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, AustraliaObjective: The objective of this study was to assess whether top-selling online (e-canteen) sales from Victorian Primary schools reflect canteen policy guidance and describe predictors of sales and cost. Methods: This cross-sectional study used e-canteen sales data from 29 Victorian primary schools. We categorised 425,332 items, assigned a nutritional rating (“Everyday”, “Select carefully”, “Occasionally” and “Never”) to the top 10 items sold and used multivariable regression analyses to explore predictors of sales and cost. Results: Among top-selling items (comprising 95% of sales), 8% were rated “Everyday”, 54% “Select carefully”, 19% “Occasionally”, 7% “Never” and 12% “Unknown”. Healthy (Everyday) sales were higher among schools with less than daily canteen availability, larger size, lower socio-educational position and higher area-level socio-economic position. Unhealthy (Occasionally–Never) sales were higher for special events, regional areas and areas of lower socio-economic position. The average meal price decreased with nutritional rating. Conclusion: There is low policy adherence, with similar sales of foods and drinks categorised as main choices (8%) vs. limited/prohibited (7%). Partial canteen policy implementation is resulting in inequitable nutrition and price outcomes across schools. Implications for Public Health: The current Victorian policy must be strengthened, fully implemented and centrally monitored to support all canteens to contribute to a healthy and equitable school food environment.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1326020025000366schoolscanteensnutritionpricingfood policy |
| spellingShingle | Anna Nicholson Claire Hardi Rachael Jinnette Maree Scully Helen Dixon Unhealthy and inequitable: Online canteen sales do not reflect policy guidance in Victorian primary schools Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health schools canteens nutrition pricing food policy |
| title | Unhealthy and inequitable: Online canteen sales do not reflect policy guidance in Victorian primary schools |
| title_full | Unhealthy and inequitable: Online canteen sales do not reflect policy guidance in Victorian primary schools |
| title_fullStr | Unhealthy and inequitable: Online canteen sales do not reflect policy guidance in Victorian primary schools |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unhealthy and inequitable: Online canteen sales do not reflect policy guidance in Victorian primary schools |
| title_short | Unhealthy and inequitable: Online canteen sales do not reflect policy guidance in Victorian primary schools |
| title_sort | unhealthy and inequitable online canteen sales do not reflect policy guidance in victorian primary schools |
| topic | schools canteens nutrition pricing food policy |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1326020025000366 |
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