The price of healthy and unhealthy foods in Australian primary school canteens

Abstract

Objective

To describe the price of Australian school canteen foods according to their nutritional value.

Methods

Primary school canteen menus were collected as part of a policy compliance randomised trial. For each menu item, dietitians classified its nutritional value; ‘green’ (‘good sources of nutrients’), ‘amber’ (‘some nutritional value’), ‘red’ (‘lack adequate nutritional value’) and assigned a food category (e.g. ‘Drinks’, ‘Snacks’). Pricing information was extracted. Within each food category, ANOVAs assessed differences between the mean price of ‘green’, ‘amber’ and ‘red’ items, and post‐hoc tests were conducted.

Results

Seventy of the 124 invited schools participated. There were significant differences in the mean price of ‘green’, ‘amber’ and ‘red foods’ across categories, with ‘green’ items more expensive than ‘amber’ items in main‐meal categories (‘Sandwiches’ +$0.43, ‘Hot Foods’ +$0.71), and the reverse true for non‐meal categories (‘Drinks’ −$0.13, ‘Snacks’ −$0.18, ‘Frozen Snacks’ −$0.25^).

Conclusion

Current pricing may not encourage the purchasing of healthy main‐meal items by and for students. Further investigation of pricing strategies that enhance the public health benefit of existing school canteen policies and practices are warranted.

Implications for Public Health

Providing support to canteen managers regarding healthy canteen policies may have a positive impact on public health nutrition.