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A pricing strategy to promote low-fat snack choices through vending machines
S A French1, R W Jeffery, M Story
1Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55454-1015, USA.
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.