Development, reliability and use of a food environment assessment tool in supermarkets of four neighbourhoods
in Montréal, Canada

Jalbert-Arsenault, Élise; Robitaille, Éric; Paquette, Marie-Claude

doi:10.24095/hpcdp.37.9.04

Cited by 8 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Beyond pulses, since we have only evaluated nine categories of food and beverages, further research is needed to assess whether other types of foods are available in discount supermarkets in Buenos Aires in similar quantities as those in non-discount supermarkets. Lastly, large variations in the availability of healthy and unhealthy products between and within retail chains have been reported by previous studies [28,44]. Our results are in accordance with those studies, and show variation in terms of the shelf length ratio among stores, suggesting that there is room for improvement.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Urban Retail Food Environments: Relative Availability and Prominence of Exhibition of Healthy vs. Unhealthy Foods at Supermarkets in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Elorriaga

Moyano

López

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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There is growing evidence that the food environment can influence diets. The present study aimed to assess the relative availability and prominence of healthy foods (HF) versus unhealthy products (UP) in supermarkets in Buenos Aires, Argentina and to explore differences by retail characteristics and neighborhood income level. We conducted store audits in 32 randomly selected food retails. Food availability (presence/absence, ratio of cumulative linear shelf length for HF vs. UP) and prominence inside the store (location visibility) were measured based on the International Network for Food and Obesity/NCDs Research, Monitoring and Action Support (INFORMAS) protocol. On average, for every 1 m of shelf length for UP, there was about 25 cm of shelf length for HF (HF/UP ratio: 0.255, SD 0.130). UP were more frequently available in high-prominence store areas (31/32 retails) than HF (9/32 retails). Shelf length ratio differed across commercial chains (p = 0.0268), but not by store size or type. Retails in the lower-income neighborhoods had a lower HF/UP ratio than those in the higher-income neighborhoods (p = 0.0329). Availability of the selected HF was overcome largely by the UP, particularly in high prominence areas, and in neighborhoods with lower income level, which may pose an opportunity for public health interventions.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Urban Retail Food Environments: Relative Availability and Prominence of Exhibition of Healthy vs. Unhealthy Foods at Supermarkets in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Elorriaga

Moyano

López

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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“…An additional limitation is the variable offering found in some food stores. For example, while supermarkets qualify as stores offering food of high nutritional value they also offer a wide range of foods of low nutritional value [72].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of a Method to Locate Deserts and Food Swamps Following the Experience of a Region in Quebec, Canada

Robitaille

Paquette

2020

IJERPH

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Unhealthy eating and food insecurity are recognized risk factors for chronic diseases. Collective and environmental factors, such as geographic access to food condition food choices. The objective of this study was to map food deserts and food swamps in Gaspesie, a region of Quebec (Canada), using geographical information systems (GIS) and field validation. Eleven sectors (5 rural and 6 urban) where 5% of the Gaspesie population lives were considered food deserts. Eight sectors (all rural) constituting 4.5% of the population were considered food swamps. Nearly 88% (3/8) of food swamps were located in disadvantaged and very disadvantaged areas. The Gaspesie region is already actively involved in changing environments to make them conducive to healthy eating for all. The mapping of food deserts can support intersectoral collaboration on food security. Food swamp mapping will make it possible to more accurately characterize the existing food environment in the region. Both indicators will be useful in raising awareness and mobilizing partners for a comprehensive strategy to improve the food environment that is not only based on the food desert indicator alone but also takes into account the presence of food swamps.

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“…A database of food businesses from the Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ) (Quebec's ministry of agriculture) will be used and validated by our regional collaborators. This data will be supplemented by audits of community food businesses [88]. To characterize communities socioeconomically, data from the 2016 INSPQ Deprivation Index will be used [89].…”

Section: Independent Community Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To characterize communities socioeconomically, data from the 2016 INSPQ Deprivation Index will be used [89]. The tool for auditing the community's businesses, which was validated for supermarkets, must be adjusted for the context of smaller food stores [88]. The analyses will be repeated at T1 and T2, although in some instances no new data will be available at these data collection points as data are typically not collected every year.…”

Section: Independent Community Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Implementing a Rural Natural Experiment: A Protocol for Evaluating the Impacts of Food Coops on Food Consumption, Resident’s Health and Community Vitality

Robitaille

Paquette

Durette

et al. 2022

MPs

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Background: Local food environments are recognized by experts as a determinant of healthy eating. Food cooperatives (coop) can promote the accessibility to healthier foods and thus improve the health of the population, particularly in remote rural communities. Objective: To measure the effects of implementing a food coop in a disadvantaged community with poor access to food. We have two main research questions: (1). Does the establishment of a food coop in rural areas described as food deserts have an impact on accessibility, frequency of use, food consumption, food quality, and ultimately the health of individuals? (2). Does the establishment of a food coop in rural areas described as food deserts have an impact on food security and community vitality? Design: A natural experiment with a mixed pre/post method will be used. The sample is composed of households that came from geographically isolated communities (population: 215 to 885 inhabitants) which qualified as food deserts and located in rural areas of Quebec (Canada). All communities plan to open a food coop (in the years 2022–2023), and as their opening will be staggered over time, participants from communities with a new food coop (intervention) will be compared to communities awaiting the opening of their food coop (control). Data collection was carried out at three time points: (1) before; (2) 1 to 5 months after; and (3) 13 to 17 months after the opening of the coop. Questionnaires were used to measure sociodemographic variables, dietary intake, residents’ health, and community vitality. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with community stakeholders. Results: Few natural experiments have been conducted regarding the impact of implementing food coops. Gathering concrete data on the effectiveness and processes surrounding these interventions through natural experiments will help to quantify their impact and guide knowledge users and policymakers to make more informed decisions.

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Development, reliability and use of a food environment assessment tool in supermarkets of four neighbourhoods in Montréal, Canada

Abstract: Introduction: The food environment is a promising arena in which to influence people's dietary habits. This study aimed to develop a comprehensive food environment assessment tool for businesses and characterize the food environment of a low-tomedium income area of Montréal, Canada.

Cited by 8 publications

References 41 publications

Urban Retail Food Environments: Relative Availability and Prominence of Exhibition of Healthy vs. Unhealthy Foods at Supermarkets in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Urban Retail Food Environments: Relative Availability and Prominence of Exhibition of Healthy vs. Unhealthy Foods at Supermarkets in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Development of a Method to Locate Deserts and Food Swamps Following the Experience of a Region in Quebec, Canada

Implementing a Rural Natural Experiment: A Protocol for Evaluating the Impacts of Food Coops on Food Consumption, Resident’s Health and Community Vitality

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