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Published on: September 18, 2018
Using Web Scraping as a Tool to Collect School Nutrition Data
Aaron Brown1, Joseph Price2, Joanne Guthrie3
1Department of Statistics, Texam A&M University, College Station, TX.
Abstract:
Web scraping, a technique for collecting publicly available online data, may facilitate collecting school meal data from large, national samples of school districts in a timely, cost-effective manner. We explore its potential by examining the variation in sodium content of 2 popular entrees served through the US Department of Agriculture's National School Lunch Program-pizza and chicken nuggets. Daily school menu data were obtained from a national sample of school districts via web scraping. Linking web scraped data to publicly available data on school districts permitted examination of entree sodium content variation across school district geographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Such information may assist nutrition professionals in targeting efforts to meet school nutrition menu objectives. Other potential applications are discussed.
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