Objective: To characterize the relationships between selected socio-demographic factors and food selection among Canadian households. Design: A secondary analysis of data from the 1996 Family Food Expenditure survey was conducted (n ¼ 10 924). Household food purchases were classified into one of the five food groups from Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating. Parametric and nonparametric modelling techniques were employed to analyse the effects of household size, composition, income and education on the proportion of income spent on each food group and the quantity purchased from each food group. Results: Household size, composition, income and education together explained 21-29% of the variation in food purchasing. Households with older adults spent a greater share of their income on vegetables and fruit (Po0.0001), whereas households with children purchased greater quantities of milk products (Po0.0001). Higher income was associated with purchasing more of all food groups (Po0.0001), but the associations were nonlinear, with the strongest effects at lower income levels. Households where the reference person had a university degree purchased significantly more vegetables and fruit, and less meat and alternatives and 'other' foods (Po0.0001), relative to households with the lowest education level. Conclusions: Household socio-demographic characteristics have a strong influence on food purchasing, with the purchase of vegetables and fruit being particularly sensitive. Results reinforce concerns about constraints on food purchasing among lower income households. Furthermore, the differential effects of income and education on food choice need to be considered in the design of public health interventions aimed at altering dietary behaviour.

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Recent estimates of added sugars intake among the U.S. population show intakes are above recommended levels. Knowledge about the sources of added sugars contributing to intakes is required to inform dietary guidance, and understanding how those sources vary across sociodemographic subgroups could also help to target guidance. The purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive update on sources of added sugars among the U.S. population, and to examine variations in sources according to sociodemographic factors. Regression analyses on intake data from NHANES 2011–18 were used to examine sources of added sugars intake among the full sample (N = 30,678) and among subsamples stratified by age, gender, ethnicity, and income. Results showed the majority of added sugars in the diet (61–66%) came from a few sources, and the top two sources were sweetened beverages and sweet bakery products, regardless of age, ethnicity, or income. Sweetened beverages, including soft drinks and fruit drinks, as well as tea, were the largest contributors to added sugars intake. There were some age-, ethnic-, and income-related differences in the relative contributions of added sugars sources, highlighting the need to consider sociodemographic contexts when developing dietary guidance or other supports for healthy eating.

Despite their resourcefulness, low-income families struggle to feed their families. Dietitians have an important role to play as advocates for adequate income supports to promote food security and nutritional health.

Despite their resourcefulness, low-income families struggle to feed their families. Dietitians have an important role to play as advocates for adequate income supports to promote food security and nutritional health.

ObjectiveTo examine the effect of the new Canadian labelling regulations on the fat composition and prices of margarines.Study designA survey of all margarines sold in major supermarkets in the Greater Toronto area was conducted in 2006, and results were compared with those of a similar survey conducted in 2002. Average fat composition, proportion of ‘trans fat-free’ margarines and average prices of margarines were compared. A general linear model procedure was used to compare the relationship between price and fat composition in 2002 and 2006.ResultsAverage amounts of trans fatty acids (TFA) and MUFA decreased, while average amounts of PUFA increased significantly from 2002 to 2006. The proportion of margarines with less than 0·2 g TFA/10 g serving rose significantly from 31 % in 2002 to 69 % in 2006. Margarines lower in TFA on average cost significantly more than margarines with greater amounts of these fats, and this relationship appeared stronger in 2006 relative to 2002.ConclusionsThere is evidence of reductions in TFA in margarines since new labelling regulations came into effect in Canada; however, TFA reductions appeared to be restricted to higher-priced margarines. Results suggest that voluntary approaches (i.e. manufacturer incentives via labelling) to reduce population intakes of TFA will yield little changes in TFA content of low-cost products and thus may have limited benefit for lower-income groups, who are at higher risk of heart disease.

The findings for margarines are of particular concern for lower income groups for whom budgetary constraints result in the purchase of lower priced foods, and also raise important questions about the usefulness of nutrient content claims in guiding food selections.

Background A concern about the excessive consumption of added sugars is the potential for micronutrient dilution, particularly for children and adolescents; however, the evidence is inconsistent. Objective We examined the associations between added sugars intake and micronutrient adequacy in U.S. children and adolescents using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009–2014. Methods Children and adolescents 2–18 (n = 7,754), 2–8 (n = 3,423), and 9–18 y (n = 4,331) were assigned to deciles of added sugars intake based on the average of two days of dietary recall. Usual intake of micronutrients was determined using two dietary recalls and the National Cancer Institute method. Within each age group, regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between added sugars intake decile and percentage of the population below the Estimated Average Requirements (EARs) for 17 micronutrients. Results Deciles of added sugars intake (% of calories) ranged from <6.4 to >22.8 among children and adolescents 2–18 y, with a median intake of 13.3% of calories. Significant positive associations (P < 0.01) between added sugars intake and percentage of the population (2–18 y) below the EAR were found only for calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D. These associations virtually disappeared after dropping the two highest and lowest deciles of intake, suggesting a threshold effect; intakes below approximately 19% of calories from added sugars were generally not associated with micronutrient inadequacy. Conclusions As added sugars intake increased, there was a threshold above which an increase in the prevalence of inadequate intakes for calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D among U.S. children and adolescents was observed. However, even at the lower deciles of added sugars, large percentages of the population were below the EAR for these nutrients, suggesting that adequate intakes of these nutrients are difficult to achieve independent of added sugars intake.