title: Pester power: snackfoods displayed at supermarket checkouts in Melbourne, Australia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish the amount and accessibility of snack food displayed at supermarket checkouts located in Melbourne, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational survey of 24 randomly selected supermarkets situated within a 20-kilometre radius of Melbourne's General Post Office. Individual checkouts within each store (n=257) were observed to determine the types of items that were displayed, how they were promoted, and whether they were within the reach of children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All supermarkets surveyed displayed food products at their checkouts, with most checkouts displaying chocolate (87%), gum (81%) and sweets (80%). Only 7% of checkouts had their display of foods or drinks out of the reach of children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Foods displayed at supermarket checkouts in Melbourne are predominantly energy-dense confectionery items. They are often promoted in a way that targets children and encourages parents to impulse buy for their children.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, The Cancer Council Victoria, Carlton. Helen.Dixon@cancervic.org.au
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: Maree
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scully
authors.forename: Kristiina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Parkinson
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D005502:Food; D005518:Food Preferences; D006801:Humans; D040541:Marketing; D010290:Parents; D014739:Victoria