title: Purchase rates and energy content of nutritionally promoted and traditional fast foods purchased at lunchtime in Australia - a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nutritionally promoted foods are now available at fast-food establishments. Little is known about their popularity, who is purchasing them, or their impact on dietary intake. Our study aimed to determine: how often nutritionally promoted fast foods were purchased; the demographic characteristics of people purchasing these foods; and if purchasing these foods resulted in reduced energy, and increased vegetable, content of lunches compared with those who purchased traditional fast foods.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey collecting lunchtime fast-food purchases and demographic details was administered over two months. Nutritionally promoted products included the McDonalds' 'Heart Foundation Tick Approved' range and Subway's 'Six grams of fat or less' range. Energy and vegetable contents were estimated using information from fast-food companies' websites. Differences in demographics, energy and vegetable contents between individuals purchasing nutritionally promoted and traditional lunches were assessed using χ2 and t tests.
  
  
  METHODS
  Queensland, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lunchtime diners aged over 16 years at Subway and McDonalds.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surveys were collected from 927 respondents (58 % male, median age 25 (range 16-84) years; 73 % response rate). Only 3 % (n 24/910) of respondents who ordered a main option had purchased a nutritionally promoted item. Purchasers of nutritionally promoted foods were ∼13 years older, predominantly female (79 %), and more often reported involvement in a health-related profession (29 % v. 11 %) than purchasers of traditional foods (P < 0·05). Purchasers of nutritionally promoted foods ordered 1·5 fewer megajoules and 0·6 more vegetable servings than purchasers of traditional foods (P < 0·05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nutritionally promoted fast foods may reduce lunchtime energy content, however these foods were infrequently chosen.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia.
authors.forename: Louise F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: Michelle A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Palmer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003132:Commerce; D004032:Diet / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D002149:Energy Intake; D057140:Fast Foods / Q000191:economics; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D015438:Health Behavior; D006282:Health Personnel; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011793:Queensland; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult