Availability of healthy and unhealthy foods in modern retail outlets located in selected districts of Greater Accra Region, Ghana

Medientyp: E-Artikel
Titel: Availability of healthy and unhealthy foods in modern retail outlets located in selected districts of Greater Accra Region, Ghana
Beteiligte: Adjei, Akosua Pokua; Amevinya, Gideon Senyo; Quarpong, Wilhemina; Tandoh, Akua; Aryeetey, Richmond; Holdsworth, Michelle; Agyemang, Charles; Zotor, Francis; Laar, Matilda E.; Mensah, Kobby; Addo, Phyllis; Laryea, Dennis; Asiki, Gershim; Sellen, Daniel; Vandevijvere, Stefanie; Laar, Amos
Erschienen: Frontiers Media SA, 2022
Erschienen in: Frontiers in Public Health
Sprache: Nicht zu entscheiden
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.922447
ISSN: 2296-2565
Schlagwörter: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
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Beschreibung: <jats:sec><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p>Intake of unhealthy foods is linked to the onset of obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Availability of unhealthy (nutritionally poor) foods can influence preference, purchasing and consumption of such foods. This study determined the healthiness of foods sold at modern retail outlets- supermarkets and mini-marts in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>All modern retail outlets located in six districts of Greater Accra were eligible. Those &lt; 200 m<jats:sup>2</jats:sup> of floor area and with permanent structures were categorized as mini-marts; and those ≥200 m<jats:sup>2</jats:sup> as supermarkets. Shelf length of all available foods were measured. Healthiness of food was determined using two criteria - the NOVA classification and energy density of foods. Thus, ultra-processed foods or food items with &gt;225 kcal/100 g were classified as unhealthy. The ratio of the area occupied by unhealthy to healthy foods was used to determine the healthiness of modern retail outlets.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Of 67 retail outlets assessed, 86.6% were mini-marts. 85.0% of the total SHELF area was occupied by foods categorized as unhealthy (ranging from 9,262 m<jats:sup>2</jats:sup> in Ashiaman Municipality to 41,892 m<jats:sup>2</jats:sup> in Accra Metropolis). Refined grains/grain products were the most available, occupying 30.0% of the total food shelf space, followed by sugar-sweetened beverages (20.1% of total shelf space). The least available food group–unprocessed staples, was found in only one high income district, and occupied 0.1% of the total food shelf space. Retail outlets in two districts did not sell fresh fruits or fresh/unsalted canned vegetables. About two-thirds of food products available (<jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 3,952) were ultra-processed. Overall, the ratio of ultra-processed-to-unprocessed foods ranged from 3 to 7 with an average (SD) of 5(2). Thus, for every healthy food, there were five ultra-processed ones in the studied retail outlets.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>This study reveals widespread availability of ultra-processed foods in modern retail outlets within the selected districts. Toward a healthier food retail environment, public health and food regulators, in partnership with other stakeholders need to institute measures that improve availability of healthy foods within supermarkets and mini-marts.</jats:p></jats:sec>
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