title: Package size and manufacturer-recommended serving size of sweet beverages: a cross-sectional study across four high-income countries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the mean package size and manufacturer-recommended serving size of sweet beverages available in four high-income countries: Australia, Canada, the Netherlands and New Zealand.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional surveys.
  
  
  METHODS
  The two largest supermarket chains of each country in 2012/2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individual pack size (IPS) drinks (n 891) and bulk pack size (BPS) drinks (n 1904).
  
  
  RESULTS
  For all IPS drinks, the mean package size was larger than the mean serving size (mean (sd)=412 (157) ml and 359 (159) ml, respectively). The mean (sd) package size of IPS drinks was significantly different for all countries (range: Australia=370 (149) ml to New Zealand=484 (191) ml; P<0·01). The mean (sd) package size of Dutch BPS drinks (1313 (323) ml) was significantly smaller compared with the other countries (New Zealand=1481 (595) ml, Australia=1542 (595) ml, Canada=1550 (434) ml; P<0·01). The mean (sd) serving size of BPS drinks was significantly different across all countries (range: Netherlands=216 (30) ml to Canada=248 (31) ml; P<0·00). New Zealand had the largest package and serving sizes of the countries assessed. In all countries, a large number of different serving sizes were used to provide information on the amount appropriate to consume in one sitting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At this point there is substantial inconsistency in package sizes and manufacturer-recommended serving sizes of sweet beverages within and between four high-income countries, especially for IPS drinks. As consumers do factor serving size into their judgements of healthiness of a product, serving size regulations, preferably set by governments and global health organisations, would provide consistency and assist individuals in making healthier food choices.
authors.affiliation: 1VU University Amsterdam,Department of Health Sciences and EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research,De Boelelaan 1085,1081 HV Amsterdam,The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Maartje P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Poelman
authors.affiliation: 2National Institute for Health Innovation,School of Population Health,The University of Auckland,Auckland,New Zealand.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eyles
authors.affiliation: 3The George Institute for Global Health,University of Sydney,Camperdown,New South Wales,Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dunford
authors.affiliation: 4Department of Nutritional Sciences,University of Toronto,Toronto,Ontario,Canada.
authors.forename: Alyssa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schermel
authors.affiliation: 4Department of Nutritional Sciences,University of Toronto,Toronto,Ontario,Canada.
authors.forename: Mary R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: L'Abbe
authors.affiliation: 3The George Institute for Global Health,University of Sydney,Camperdown,New South Wales,Australia.
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Neal
authors.affiliation: 1VU University Amsterdam,Department of Health Sciences and EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research,De Boelelaan 1085,1081 HV Amsterdam,The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jacob C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Seidell
authors.affiliation: 1VU University Amsterdam,Department of Health Sciences and EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research,De Boelelaan 1085,1081 HV Amsterdam,The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ingrid Hm
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Steenhuis
authors.affiliation: 2National Institute for Health Innovation,School of Population Health,The University of Auckland,Auckland,New Zealand.
authors.forename: Cliona
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ni Mhurchu
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D001628:Beverages / Q000592:standards*; D002170:Canada; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019049:Developed Countries; D002149:Energy Intake; D018857:Food Packaging; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D009520:New Zealand; D064787:Portion Size / Q000592:standards*; D064788:Serving Size / Q000592:standards*; D013549:Sweetening Agents
chemical_list: D013549:Sweetening Agents
keywords: Non-alcoholic beverages; Package size; Portion size; Serving size; Supermarket