Abstract
Learning Outcome
Participants will be able to describe relationships between the level of promotion of low-fat and plant-based milks in two country’s dietary guidelines (US and Colombia) and their availability at restaurants.
Background
Dietary guidelines (DG) commonly suggest reducing saturated fat consumption; however, DG promoting low-fat (LF) and plant-based (PB) milks as alternatives to high saturated fat whole milk varies among countries. Therefore, restaurant availability of LF and PB milks may vary with different DG promotions.
Methods
Two countries with differing DG milk promotions were analyzed: (1) US (high promotion; >10 LF milk statements and a PB milk recommendation) and (2) Colombia (low promotion; one LF milk statement and no PB milk mentions). Multistage purposive sampling was conducted to select non-chain restaurants in both countries. Two trained observers independently visited restaurants and recorded LF (e.g., 1% low-fat, skim, or non-fat) and PB milk (e.g., soy, coconut, almond, flax, rice, or oat milk) availability. Inter-rater reliability was evaluated, and discrepancies resolved. Relationships between DG promotion level and LF/PB milk restaurant availability were examined with Chi-squared tests.
Results
DG promotion level’s relationship to LF milk availability in restaurants was not significant. Restaurant availability of LF milk was limited in both countries. Only six of 63 US restaurants (10%) and 7 of 64 (11%) Colombian restaurants offered LF milk. Surprisingly, low DG promotion was inversely related to PB milk restaurant availability (χ2=10.83, p= < 0.01), with 13 US restaurants (21%) versus 31 Colombian establishments (48%) offering PB milk.
Conclusions
Level of LF milk DG promotion was not associated with restaurant availability, revealing misalignment between DG and restaurant food availability. Interestingly, Colombia offered more PB milk with no DG statements, signaling the need for further research.
Funding Source
Support for interdisciplinary research projects – internal call: Pontificia Universidad Javeriana-Bogota.
Participants will be able to describe relationships between the level of promotion of low-fat and plant-based milks in two country’s dietary guidelines (US and Colombia) and their availability at restaurants.
Background
Dietary guidelines (DG) commonly suggest reducing saturated fat consumption; however, DG promoting low-fat (LF) and plant-based (PB) milks as alternatives to high saturated fat whole milk varies among countries. Therefore, restaurant availability of LF and PB milks may vary with different DG promotions.
Methods
Two countries with differing DG milk promotions were analyzed: (1) US (high promotion; >10 LF milk statements and a PB milk recommendation) and (2) Colombia (low promotion; one LF milk statement and no PB milk mentions). Multistage purposive sampling was conducted to select non-chain restaurants in both countries. Two trained observers independently visited restaurants and recorded LF (e.g., 1% low-fat, skim, or non-fat) and PB milk (e.g., soy, coconut, almond, flax, rice, or oat milk) availability. Inter-rater reliability was evaluated, and discrepancies resolved. Relationships between DG promotion level and LF/PB milk restaurant availability were examined with Chi-squared tests.
Results
DG promotion level’s relationship to LF milk availability in restaurants was not significant. Restaurant availability of LF milk was limited in both countries. Only six of 63 US restaurants (10%) and 7 of 64 (11%) Colombian restaurants offered LF milk. Surprisingly, low DG promotion was inversely related to PB milk restaurant availability (χ2=10.83, p= < 0.01), with 13 US restaurants (21%) versus 31 Colombian establishments (48%) offering PB milk.
Conclusions
Level of LF milk DG promotion was not associated with restaurant availability, revealing misalignment between DG and restaurant food availability. Interestingly, Colombia offered more PB milk with no DG statements, signaling the need for further research.
Funding Source
Support for interdisciplinary research projects – internal call: Pontificia Universidad Javeriana-Bogota.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | A62 |
| Journal | Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics |
| Volume | 124 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 2024 |