According to a new study conducted by researchers at the University of California, Davis, navigating the checkout lane in search of healthy food options can be quite a challenge.
They found that 70% of foods and beverages displayed at checkout are unhealthy, with snack-sized options scoring an even higher unhealthy percentage—89%.
The Unhealthy Temptations at Checkout
The study, published in Current Developments in Nutrition, reveals the majority of food and beverage options at checkout are candy (31%), sugar-sweetened beverages (11%), salty snacks (9%), and sweets (6%).
Healthy items such as water, nuts and seeds, fruits and vegetables, legumes, and milk made up a minimal percentage of the available options.
The Commercial Drive Behind Checkout Food Options
Food and beverage companies consider the checkout lane prime real estate for their products.
As Jennifer Falbe, the lead author of the study, explains, checkout is where all customers pass through, thus contributing to impulse purchases.
This has led to marketing agreements where companies pay stores to place their mostly unhealthy products at checkout.
Analyzing Checkout Lanes Across Various Stores
The researchers analyzed the checkout lanes in 102 food stores across Davis, Sacramento, Oakland, and Berkeley, including supermarkets, grocery stores, specialty food stores, drugstores, dollar stores, and mass merchandisers.
Implementing Healthy Checkout Policies
In February 2021, Berkeley became the first U.S. city to implement a healthy checkout policy, requiring large food stores to offer more nutritious options at the checkout.
Falbe emphasizes that the majority of the U.S. population exceeds the daily recommended limits for added sugar and sodium intake, a trend that could be countered with such policies.
Results Reflect Disparity in Healthful Food Access
Using Berkeley’s policy as a benchmark, the researchers found the percentage of food and beverage options meeting healthy checkout standards was highest in chain specialty food stores, supermarkets, and mass merchandisers, while it was lowest in chain dollar stores and independent grocery stores, which are more common in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
The Opportunity for Change
Falbe believes the study’s findings highlight an opportunity for checkouts to offer more choice by expanding access to healthier options, a shift that could improve the food environment across all neighborhoods.
Currently, consumers lack diverse choices at checkout, a factor that could be influencing unhealthy food consumption patterns.
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The study was published in Current Developments in Nutrition.
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