Grab Goodness Vending - A pilot research program to stimulate healthy snacking in tertiary education settings

Abstract

Background: Obesity is a worldwide epidemic affecting people across all ages and demographics. Vending machines are becoming increasingly prevalent in public places, including in the education setting. Vending machines have been identified as an obesogenic factor by contributing to the increased availability and over-consumption of energy-dense nutrient poor (EDNP) foods and beverages throughout the day. This study is based in a large, urban tertiary education institute. This study investigates the effect of increasing the availability of healthier snack and beverage vending options, to increase the sales volume of healthy options in proportion to unhealthy options. Methods: An audit of the standard machines (n=3) at the tertiary education institute was carried out to assess the nutritional quality of the existing food environment provided by these vending machines. Healthy competitive snacks and beverages to be included in new 'Grab Goodness' vending machines were researched and assessed by dietitians based on healthful criteria set out in a National Healthy Food and Drinks Policy. The availability of healthy assortment was increased through the addition of 'Grab Goodness' vending machines (n=4). These vending machines containing only healthy ('Green' and 'Amber' category) snacks and beverages, were introduced alongside existing standard vending machines (n=7). The monthly sales data from each of the healthy vending machines and co-located standard machines were captured electronically. The study period was between February 2017 and September 2018. Results: The initial audit found the assortment of snacks and beverages offered by standard vending machines were of poor nutritional quality, with only 16% of all products rated as 'healthy'. On average, more than 90% of the assortment offered through new Grab Goodness machines were healthy. The increase in availability of healthy snacks and beverages through the addition of 'Grab Goodness' machines resulted in an increase in the proportion sales of healthy products by 30%. The sales volume of vending machines was also increased over the same period. Conclusions: Increasing the availability of healthy competitive assortment increased the sales of vended healthy snack and beverages by three-fold, accounting for 44% of all vending machine purchases. The introduction of new 'Grab Goodness' vending machines improves the food environment by implementing the National Healthy Food and Drink Policy and may therefore, be an effective and feasible strategy to increase the uptake of healthier food and beverage options by vending machine clients in the university setting. Keywords: vending machines, healthy, snacking, food environment, EDNP, competitive assortment