Cliona Ni Mhurchu
Biographic Data
| ID | 216469 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Cliona Ni Mhurchu |
| GIVEN NAMES | Cliona Ni |
| FAMILY NAME | Mhurchu |
| SIGNATURE | MHURCHU C N |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Auckland |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-1144-9167 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 57 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 83 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 57 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2005 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 6 |
Do foods that display sustainability claims have a lower carbon footprint than their unlabelled counterparts
Purpose Labels indicating greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe) on food packaging are intended to signal to consumers which products have a lower carbon footprint. However, it is currently unknown whether products featuring these claims have lower GHGe than their unlabelled counterparts. This study compared the GHGe of packaged foods with and without GHGe-relevant claims. Methods We used GHGe (kg CO 2 eq/kg) and labelling data for 22,145 products avail…
The food industry’s role in influencing consumer demand for healthy and unhealthy food: Perspectives from Australian food companies
Objective: This study sought to explore how food company representatives perceive the food industry’s role in responding to and driving consumer demand for healthy and unhealthy foods. Design: Semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2022 by 2–3 researchers to explore food company representatives’ perspectives related to consumer demand for healthy and unhealthy food. Detailed field notes, including verbatim quotes, were recorded, and the dat…
Effects of dual front-of-pack nutrition and sustainability labelling on consumer understanding, purchase intentions, food choices and willingness to pay: A systematic literature review
Dual front-of-pack (FoP) labelling (i.e., presence of both nutrition and sustainability labels) can guide consumers towards healthier and more sustainable food choices. Despite growing interest, evidence on behavioural outcomes remains limited. This study aimed to review existing literature to understand the effects of dual FoP labelling on consumer behaviour. We searched seven databases for experimental studies published until May 2024 that asse…
Modelled health impacts of three stakeholder-selected policies to support healthy and environmentally sustainable population diets in New Zealand
Uses rich qualitative data on stakeholder perspectives to inform policy design. • Presents three food policies of varying designs to inform real world policy. • Identifies cost saving policies which could potentially reduce health inequities. • Policies require large up-front costs or loss of governmental income. • Health system cost savings are expected in the medium to long term. Food production and consumption impacts both planetary and popula…
Proposed best-practice nutrition-related corporate reporting metrics for Australian food manufacturers, quick-service restaurants and retailers
Objective: To propose nutrition-related corporate reporting metrics for Australian packaged food manufacturers, retailers and quick-service restaurants and explore their feasibility of implementation. Design: Proposed metrics were developed based on (1) a review of current corporate reporting frameworks and relevant literature to collate nutrition-related recommendations, metrics and principles of best-practice reporting and (2) adaptation of exi…
Testing and adapting dietary habits and food security questions for a national nutrition survey using cognitive interviews and expert consultation
Objective: To cognitively test questions for inclusion in a national nutrition survey, ensuring the questions are interpreted as intended, and to inform further improvements. Design: A draft nutrition survey questionnaire was developed based on existing questionnaires and expert input. Twelve questions on dietary habits and food security were selected for cognitive testing as these were newly developed, amended from existing questions or identifi…
Awareness, support, and opinions of healthy food and drink policies: A survey of staff and visitors in New Zealand healthcare organisations
The Policy led to notable changes in the healthiness of foods and drinks available in NZ hospitals but this was accompanied by a perception of reduced value and choice. While generally well supported, the findings indicate opportunities to improve implementation of food and drink policies (e.g. providing more healthy food choices, better engagement with staff, and keeping prices of healthy options low) and confirm that the Policy could be expande…
Selecting a dietary assessment method for a national nutrition survey: A review and evaluation of online 24-h dietary recall tools
Objective: Online 24-h dietary recall tools are commonly used in nationwide nutrition surveys to assess population diets. With a steep rise in the development of new and more advanced 24-h dietary recall tools, the decision of which tool to use for a national nutrition survey becomes increasingly challenging. Therefore, this short communication outlines the process of selecting a 24-h dietary recall tool for a national nutrition survey in New Zea…
‘ It's somewhere here, isn't it’? The provision of information and health warnings for alcoholic beverages sold online in New Zealand and the United Kingdom
Does the prevalence of promotions on foods and beverages vary by product healthiness? A population-based study of household food and drink purchases in New Zealand
Objective: To assess the prevalence of promotions on foods and non-alcoholic drinks purchased by New Zealand households and to determine if they vary according to healthiness of products. Design: We undertook a cross-sectional analysis of Nielsen New Zealand Homescan® 2018/19 panel data. We conducted multivariate analyses to examine the variability in quantities of healthy v . unhealthy food and beverage products purchased on promotion. Promotion…
Impact of a voluntary industry code for advertising food to children and young people: An analysis of New Zealand television data
Objective: To evaluate the impact of the 2017 update to the voluntary Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) code for advertising food on children and young people’s exposure to unhealthy food advertisements on New Zealand television. Design: Audience ratings data were analysed for New Zealand children and young people’s television viewing for eight random days prior to (June to August 2015) and following (October to December 2018) the code update…
Healthiness of foods and non-alcoholic beverages according to store type: A population-based study of household food and drink purchases in New Zealand
Policies to improve healthy food retailing should consider all retail store types and focus particularly on increasing the availability of healthy food options at convenience stores and bakeries. Given that supermarkets are the source of most household food purchases (both healthy and unhealthy), strategies are also warranted to increase the relative availability and purchases of healthy foods from supermarkets
Seven-year trends in the availability, sugar content and serve size of single-serve non-alcoholic beverages in New Zealand: 2013–2019
Objective: To assess trends in relative availability, sugar content and serve size of ready-to-drink non-alcoholic beverages available for sale in supermarkets from 2013 to 2019. Design: Repeat cross-sectional surveys. Data on single-serve beverages to be consumed in one sitting were obtained from an updated brand-specific food composition database. Trends in beverages availability and proportions with serve size ≤ 250 ml were assessed by χ 2 tes…
Energy-dense, nutrient-poor food and beverage sales in Australia: Where and when products are sold, and how sales are changing over time
Objective: To quantify sales trends for key energy-dense, nutrient-poor (EDNP) foods and beverages over 5 years in Australia. Design: The Euromonitor Global Market Information Database and linear regression models were used to estimate average annual change in sales per capita of thirteen EDNP food categories and two EDNP beverage categories (defined using Australian Dietary Guidelines) over 5 years (2012–2017 for foods and 2011–2016 for beverage…
Dietary patterns associated with meeting the WHO free sugars intake guidelines
Objective: Emerging evidence suggests that free sugars intake in many countries exceeds that recommended by the WHO. However, information regarding real-world dietary patterns associated with meeting the WHO free sugars guidelines is lacking. The current study aimed to determine dietary patterns associated with meeting the guidelines to inform effective free sugars reduction interventions in New Zealand (NZ) and similar high-income countries. Des…
Do purchases of price promoted and generic branded foods and beverages vary according to food category and income level? Evidence from a consumer research panel
The effect of a shelf placement intervention on sales of healthier and less healthy breakfast cereals in supermarkets: A co-designed pilot study
Supermarkets are the principal source of grocery food in many high-income countries. Choice architecture strategies show promise to improve the healthiness of food choices. A retailer-academic collaboration was formed to co-design and pilot selected commercially sustainable strategies to increase sales of healthier foods relative to less healthy foods in supermarkets. Two co-design workshops, involving supermarket corporate staff and public healt…
Rugby Fans in Training New Zealand (Rufit-NZ): A pilot randomized controlled trial of a healthy lifestyle program for overweight men delivered through professional rugby clubs in New Zealand
The trial was prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12616000137493 , 05/12/2016
Children's healthy and unhealthy beverage availability, purchase and consumption: A wearable camera study
The use of wearable cameras in assessing children's dietary intake and behaviours in China
Appetite for health-related food taxes: New Zealand stakeholder views
There is increasing discussion globally of the value of health-related food taxes and subsidies to address obesity and noncommunicable diseases. In order for such policies to be successful it is important to understand the positions of key stakeholders. This research investigated New Zealand (NZ) stakeholders' views on the feasibility and acceptability of selected health-related food taxes and subsidies over the next 5 to 10 years. Twenty semi-st…
Children's home and school neighbourhood exposure to alcohol marketing: Using wearable camera and GPS data to directly examine the link between retailer availability and visual exposure to marketing
Do nutrition labels influence healthier food choices? Analysis of label viewing behaviour and subsequent food purchases in a labelling intervention trial
BACKGROUND: There are few objective data on how nutrition labels are used in real-world shopping situations, or how they affect dietary choices and patterns. DESIGN: The Starlight study was a four-week randomised, controlled trial of the effects of three different types of nutrition labels on consumer food purchases: Traffic Light Labels, Health Star Rating labels, or Nutrition Information Panels (control). Smartphone technology allowed participa…
Co-designing an mHealth tool in the New Zealand Māori community with a "Kaupapa Māori" approach
Obesity rates in Aotearoa/New Zealand continue to rise, and there is an urgent need for effective interventions. However, interventions designed for the general population tend to be less effective for Māori communities and may contribute to increased health inequities. We describe the integration of co-design and kaupapa Māori research approaches to design a mobile-phone delivered (mHealth) healthy lifestyle app that supports the health aspirati…
Children's exposure to alcohol marketing within supermarkets: An objective analysis using GPS technology and wearable cameras
Kids in space: Measuring children's residential neighborhoods and other destinations using activity space GPS and wearable camera data
Do effects of price discounts and nutrition education on food purchases vary by ethnicity, income and education? Results from a randomised, controlled trial
BACKGROUND: Reducing health inequalities requires interventions that work as well, if not better, among disadvantaged populations. The aim of this study was to determine if the effects of price discounts and tailored nutrition education on supermarket food purchases (percentage energy from saturated fat and healthy foods purchased) vary by ethnicity, household income and education. METHOD: A 2×2 factorial trial of 1104 New Zealand shoppers random…
Effects of a price increase on purchases of sugar sweetened beverages. Results from a randomized controlled trial
Do nutrition labels influence healthier food choices? Analysis of label viewing behaviour and subsequent food purchases in a labelling intervention trial
BACKGROUND: There are few objective data on how nutrition labels are used in real-world shopping situations, or how they affect dietary choices and patterns. DESIGN: The Starlight study was a four-week randomised, controlled trial of the effects of three different types of nutrition labels on consumer food purchases: Traffic Light Labels, Health Star Rating labels, or Nutrition Information Panels (control). Smartphone technology allowed participa…
The use of a wearable camera to capture and categorise the environmental and social context of self-identified eating episodes
Inclusion of indigenous and ethnic minority populations in intervention trials: Challenges and strategies in a New Zealand supermarket study
BACKGROUND: The Supermarket Healthy Options Project (SHOP) is a large, randomised, controlled trial designed to evaluate the effect of tailored nutrition education and price discounts on supermarket food purchases. A key objective was to recruit approximately equal numbers of Māori, Pacific and non-Māori, non-Pacific shoppers. This paper describes the recruitment strategies used and evaluates their impact on recruitment of Māori, Pacific and non-…
The effect of a shelf placement intervention on sales of healthier and less healthy breakfast cereals in supermarkets: A co-designed pilot study
Supermarkets are the principal source of grocery food in many high-income countries. Choice architecture strategies show promise to improve the healthiness of food choices. A retailer-academic collaboration was formed to co-design and pilot selected commercially sustainable strategies to increase sales of healthier foods relative to less healthy foods in supermarkets. Two co-design workshops, involving supermarket corporate staff and public healt…
Children's exposure to alcohol marketing within supermarkets: An objective analysis using GPS technology and wearable cameras
Comparative effects of TV watching, recreational computer use, and sedentary video game play on spontaneous energy intake in male children. A randomised crossover trial☆
Availability and accessibility of healthier options and nutrition information at New Zealand fast food restaurants
Co-designing an mHealth tool in the New Zealand Māori community with a "Kaupapa Māori" approach
Obesity rates in Aotearoa/New Zealand continue to rise, and there is an urgent need for effective interventions. However, interventions designed for the general population tend to be less effective for Māori communities and may contribute to increased health inequities. We describe the integration of co-design and kaupapa Māori research approaches to design a mobile-phone delivered (mHealth) healthy lifestyle app that supports the health aspirati…
Nutritional quality, labelling and promotion of breakfast cereals on the New Zealand market
Economic evaluation of price discounts and skill-building strategies on purchase and consumption of healthy food and beverages: The SHELf randomized controlled trial
Effects of a free school breakfast programme on children's attendance, academic achievement and short-term hunger: Results from a stepped-wedge, cluster randomised controlled trial
BACKGROUND: Free school breakfast programmes (SBPs) exist in a number of high-income countries, but their effects on educational outcomes have rarely been evaluated in randomised controlled trials. METHODS: A 1-year stepped-wedge, cluster randomised controlled trial was undertaken in 14 New Zealand schools in low socioeconomic resource areas. Participants were 424 children, mean age 9±2 years, 53% female. The intervention was a free daily SBP. Th…
Do purchases of price promoted and generic branded foods and beverages vary according to food category and income level? Evidence from a consumer research panel
Children's healthy and unhealthy beverage availability, purchase and consumption: A wearable camera study
The use of wearable cameras in assessing children's dietary intake and behaviours in China
Nutrition and the burden of disease in New Zealand: 1997–2011
Objective To estimate the burden of disease due to selected nutrition-related risk factors (high total blood cholesterol, high systolic blood pressure, high body mass index (BMI) and inadequate vegetable and fruit intake) in 1997, as well as the burden that could potentially be avoided in 2011 if small, favourable changes in the current risk factor distribution were to occur. Design Data on risk factor levels, disease burden and risk associations…
Mortality attributable to higher-than-optimal body mass index in New Zealand
Objectives To estimate the burden of mortality in New Zealand due to higher-than-optimal body mass index (BMI) in 1997, as well as mortality that could be avoided in 2011 with feasible changes in mean population BMI. Setting New Zealand. Design Comparative risk assessment methodology was used to estimate the attributable and avoidable mortality due to high BMI. Outcomes assessed were ischaemic heart disease (IHD), ischaemic stroke, type 2 diabete…
Food and nutrient availability in New Zealand: An analysis of supermarket sales data
Objective To examine food and nutrient availability in New Zealand using supermarket sales data in conjunction with a brand-specific supermarket food composition database (SFD). Design The SFD was developed by selecting the top-selling supermarket food products and linking them to food composition data from a variety of sources, before merging with individualised sales data. Supermarket food and nutrient data were then compared with data from nat…
Strategies to promote healthier food purchases: A pilot supermarket intervention study
Objective To pilot the design and methodology for a large randomised controlled trial (RCT) of two interventions to promote healthier food purchasing: culturally appropriate nutrition education and price discounts. Design A 12-week, single-blind, pilot RCT. Effects on food purchases were measured using individualised electronic shopping data (‘Shop ’N Go’ system). Partial data were also collected on food expenditure at other (non-supermarket) ret…
Perceptions of New Zealand nutrition labels by Māori, Pacific and low-income shoppers
Background In New Zealand the burden of nutrition-related disease is greatest among Māori, Pacific and low-income peoples. Nutrition labels have the potential to promote healthy food choices and eating behaviours. To date, there has been a noticeable lack of research among indigenous peoples, ethnic minorities and low-income populations regarding their perceptions, use and understanding of nutrition labels. Our aim was to evaluate perceptions of …
Feasibility, design and conduct of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial to reduce overweight and obesity in children: The electronic games to aid motivation to exercise (eGame) study
An overview of the eGAME study is presented, providing an example of a large, pragmatic randomized controlled trial in a community setting. Reflection is offered on key issues encountered during the course of the study. In particular, investigation into the feasibility of the proposed intervention, as well as robust testing of proposed study procedures is a critical step prior to implementation of a large-scale trial
Nutrition labels: A survey of use, understanding and preferences among ethnically diverse shoppers in New Zealand
Objective Effective nutrition labels are part of a supportive environment that encourages healthier food choices. The present study examined the use, understanding and preferences regarding nutrition labels among ethnically diverse shoppers in New Zealand. Design and setting A survey was carried out at twenty-five supermarkets in Auckland, New Zealand, between February and April 2007. Recruitment was stratified by ethnicity. Questions assessed nu…
Inclusion of indigenous and ethnic minority populations in intervention trials: Challenges and strategies in a New Zealand supermarket study
BACKGROUND: The Supermarket Healthy Options Project (SHOP) is a large, randomised, controlled trial designed to evaluate the effect of tailored nutrition education and price discounts on supermarket food purchases. A key objective was to recruit approximately equal numbers of Māori, Pacific and non-Māori, non-Pacific shoppers. This paper describes the recruitment strategies used and evaluates their impact on recruitment of Māori, Pacific and non-…
Effects of a free school breakfast programme on school attendance, achievement, psychosocial function, and nutrition: A stepped wedge cluster randomised trial
Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) - ACTRN12609000854235
Supermarket Healthy Eating for Life (SHELf): Protocol of a randomised controlled trial promoting healthy food and beverage consumption through price reduction and skill-building strategies
Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN39432901
Screen-time Weight-loss Intervention Targeting Children at Home (SWITCH): A randomized controlled trial study protocol
ACTRN12611000164998
Do effects of price discounts and nutrition education on food purchases vary by ethnicity, income and education? Results from a randomised, controlled trial
BACKGROUND: Reducing health inequalities requires interventions that work as well, if not better, among disadvantaged populations. The aim of this study was to determine if the effects of price discounts and tailored nutrition education on supermarket food purchases (percentage energy from saturated fat and healthy foods purchased) vary by ethnicity, household income and education. METHOD: A 2×2 factorial trial of 1104 New Zealand shoppers random…
Economic incentives to promote healthier food purchases: Exploring acceptability and key factors for success
Despite increasing interest, little is known about the beliefs and views of the public in relation to the use of economic incentives as a means to promote healthy eating. This study explores views of ethnically and socioeconomically diverse shoppers regarding acceptability of economic incentives to promote healthier food purchases, and factors likely to affect the success of such schemes. Six focus groups (n = 36 participants; 14 Māori, 12 Pacifi…
Tailored nutrition education: Is it really effective
Objective There has been a growing interest in tailored nutrition education over the previous decade, with a number of literature reviews suggesting this intervention strategy holds considerable potential. Nevertheless, the majority of intervention trials undertaken to date have employed subjective self-report outcome measures (such as dietary recalls). The aim of the present review is to further consider the likely true effect of tailored nutrit…
Availability and accessibility of healthier options and nutrition information at New Zealand fast food restaurants
Monitoring the availability of healthy and unhealthy foods and non‐alcoholic beverages in community and consumer retail food environments globally
Retail food environments are increasingly considered influential in determining dietary behaviours and health outcomes. We reviewed the available evidence on associations between community (type, availability and accessibility of food outlets) and consumer (product availability, prices, promotions and nutritional quality within stores) food environments and dietary outcomes in order to develop an evidence‐based framework for monitoring the availa…
Tackling 'wicked' health promotion problems: A New Zealand case study
This paper reports on a complex environmental approach to addressing 'wicked' health promotion problems devised to inform policy for enhancing food security and physical activity among Māori, Pacific and low-income people in New Zealand. This multi-phase research utilized literature reviews, focus groups, stakeholder workshops and key informant interviews. Participants included members of affected communities, policy-makers and academics. Results…
The non-advertising effects of screen-based sedentary activities on acute eating behaviours in children, adolescents, and young adults. A systematic review
Effects of a free school breakfast programme on children's attendance, academic achievement and short-term hunger: Results from a stepped-wedge, cluster randomised controlled trial
BACKGROUND: Free school breakfast programmes (SBPs) exist in a number of high-income countries, but their effects on educational outcomes have rarely been evaluated in randomised controlled trials. METHODS: A 1-year stepped-wedge, cluster randomised controlled trial was undertaken in 14 New Zealand schools in low socioeconomic resource areas. Participants were 424 children, mean age 9±2 years, 53% female. The intervention was a free daily SBP. Th…
Using mobile technology to support lower-salt food choices for people with cardiovascular disease: Protocol for the SaltSwitch randomized controlled trial
ACTRN12614000206628. Registered 30 March 2014
Effects of interpretive front-of-pack nutrition labels on food purchases: Protocol for the Starlight randomised controlled trial
Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12614000644662 (registered 18 June 2014)
Comparative effects of TV watching, recreational computer use, and sedentary video game play on spontaneous energy intake in male children. A randomised crossover trial☆
Effects of a price increase on purchases of sugar sweetened beverages. Results from a randomized controlled trial
Nutritional quality, labelling and promotion of breakfast cereals on the New Zealand market
The use of a wearable camera to capture and categorise the environmental and social context of self-identified eating episodes
Medicine (43 works) · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet (42 works) · Environmental health (33 works) · Business (23 works) · Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling (23 works) · Nutritional Studies and Diet (23 works) · Psychology (16 works) · Nursing (15 works) · Food Science (14 works) · Randomized controlled trial (14 works)