Availability of sports foods globally and in New Zealand supermarkets: A systematic review and analysis of availability data

Abstract

Background Sports foods are specially formulated, usually with specific added ingredients or nutrients, to help people achieve specific nutritional or sporting performance goals. The increasing availability of such products has been hypothesised and may provide athletes with greater choice in aiding their recovery and performance. However, misinformed use of such products may lead to public health concerns, including through banned substances. Currently, no literature surrounding the availability of such foods in New Zealand has been published to confirm this and could be of use to multiple stakeholders. Aims 1) To systematically review the published literature on the availability of sports foods globally and the marketing strategies used. 2) To assess the availability of sports foods within New Zealand supermarkets and availability trends over the past six years. Method A definition of sports foods was created from currently accepted definitions of similar products and used to identify relevant products. A systematic review was conducted across four scientific literature databases. Data were extracted onto a standardised form, and a narrative review was undertaken regarding availability, consumption, and marketing strategies. Data between 2013 and 2018 were collected from the Nutritrack packaged food composition database that displays the appearance of unique food items on supermarket shelves, with photographs. These data were used to assess the availability of sports foods via descriptive and Chi-Square analysis, along with the front of package labelling techniques used to market such products. Results Data published on the availability of sports foods and marketing strategies used suggest that sports foods have been increasing in global availability (Figure 3). In New Zealand, between 2013 and 2018, the proportion of packaged foods classified as sports foods increased from 1.8% (n=247) to 2.1% (n=325). The systematic review found increased inclusion of recovery ingredients (Table 1), which was concordant with the increased nutrient-based claims found in the Nutritrack analysis (Table 8) Conclusion This research found an increased availability of sports foods globally and within New Zealand supermarkets. Marketing of these products now emphasises nutrient claims to entice consumers and quickly convey health status. This information can provide standing for public health professionals to educate the public around appropriate use of these products better, and for sporting bodies to make athletes aware of contamination risk. Further research should be conducted surrounding the sales of these products and their consumption.