Package size and manufacturer-recommended serving size of sweet beverages

A cross-sectional study across four high-income countries

Bibliographic Data

ID15095050
AuthorsMaartje P Poelman (0000-0003-4346-4481, Amsterdam Public Health, corresponding author), Helen Eyles (0000-0002-9521-3513, University of Auckland), Elizabeth K Dunford (0000-0003-4505-3256, The University of Sydney), Elizabeth Dunford, Alyssa Schermel (University of Toronto), Mary R L’Abbé (0000-0001-7688-7558, University of Toronto), Bruce Neal (0000-0002-0490-7465, The George Institute for Global Health), Jacob C Seidell (0000-0002-9262-9062, Amsterdam Public Health), Ingrid HM Steenhuis (0000-0002-0065-2776, Amsterdam Public Health), Cliona Ni Mhurchu (0000-0002-1144-9167, University of Auckland)
Year2016
Volume19
Issue6
Pages1008-1016
Publication date2016-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePublic Health Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1368-9800 • E-ISSN: 1475-2727
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s1368980015001974
PMID26148431
OpenAlexW2281711709
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited24

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. Design Cross-sectional surveys. Setting The two largest supermarket chains of each country in 2012/2013. Subjects 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 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

Agricultural economics · Business · Cross-sectional study · Economics · Environmental health · Portion size · Serving size · Statistics · Chemistry · Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling · Mathematics · Medicine · Nutritional Studies and Diet · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Food Science

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