title: The effect of changes in visibility and price on fruit purchasing at a university cafeteria in Lima, Peru.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of increasing fruit visibility, adding information and lowering price on fruit purchasing at a university cafeteria in Lima, Peru.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quasi-experimental pilot study of a three-phase stepped intervention. In Phase 1, fruit was displayed >3 m from the point of purchase with no additional information. Phase 2 consisted in displaying the fruit near the point of purchase with added health and price information. Phase 3 added a 33% price reduction. The duration of each phase was 3 weeks and phases were separated by 2-week breaks. Primary outcomes were total pieces of fruit and number of meals sold daily.
  
  
  METHODS
  A university cafeteria in Lima, Peru.
  
  
  METHODS
  Approximately 150 people, students and non-student adults, who purchased food daily. Twelve students participated in post-intervention interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fruit purchasing doubled from Phase 1 to Phase 3 (P<0·01) and remained significant after adjusting for the number of meals sold daily (P<0·05). There was no evidence of a difference in fruit sold between the other phases. Females purchased 100% of the fruit in Phase 1, 82% in Phase 2 and 67% in Phase 3 (P<0·01). Males increased their purchasing significantly between Phase 1 and 3 (P<0·01). Non-student adults purchased more fruit with each phase (P<0·05) whereas students did not. Qualitatively, the most common reason for not purchasing fruit was a marked preference to buy unhealthy snack foods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Promoting fruit consumption by product placement close to the point of purchase, adding health information and price reduction had a positive effect on fruit purchasing in a university cafeteria, especially in males and non-student adults.
authors.affiliation: 1CRONICAS Center of Excellence in Chronic Diseases,Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia,Av. Armendariz 497,Miraflores,Lima-18,Peru.
authors.forename: María Kathia
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Cárdenas
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Cardiology,University of Washington,Seattle,WA,USA.
authors.forename: Catherine P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Benziger
authors.affiliation: 3Medical School,University College London,London,UK.
authors.forename: Timesh D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Pillay
authors.affiliation: 1CRONICAS Center of Excellence in Chronic Diseases,Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia,Av. Armendariz 497,Miraflores,Lima-18,Peru.
authors.forename: J Jaime
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Miranda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003132:Commerce; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D004032:Diet / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D005515:Food Labeling; D005518:Food Preferences; D005522:Food Services; D005638:Fruit; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010568:Peru; D012737:Sex Factors; D062410:Snacks; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Food accessibility; Fruit; Health promotion; Price