Mobile Food Vending and the After-School Food Environment

Abstract

Background Low-income and minority children have higher rates of obesity and overweight. Greater understanding of their food access is important. Because of higher rates of walking to school in these populations, these children likely have greater exposure to the food environment immediately around their schools. Mobile food vendors are an understudied aspect of the food environment in U.S. urban areas. Purpose This study aims to observe the after-school food environment in an urban area where mobile vending is known to occur in order to study the range of vendors encountered near schools and the items sold in the after-school period. Methods In the spring of 2008, the presence of mobile food vendors after school within ¼ mile of nine public schools was assessed in a predominantly Latino district of Oakland CA. At six schools with regular presence of vendors, observations were made at mobile vendors documenting characteristics of transactions, consumers, and items. Results During 37 observation-hours across 23 days, there were 1355 items sold to 1195 individuals. Fifty-six percent of the transactions involved children with no adults present. There was a wide range in foods sold, and although there were vendors selling low-nutrient, energy-dense foods, there were also vendors selling whole and processed (precut and bagged) fresh fruits and vegetables. Roughly 40% of these whole fruits and processed fruits and vegetables were consumed by children. On average, children each consumed $1.54 of foods per transaction. Conclusions Mobile food vendors in urban areas contribute to after-school snacking among children, and should be considered as a component of the school food environment.

Availability of processed foods in the perimeter of public schools in urban areas

“…No entanto, deve-se considerar a exposição dos estudantes ao ambiente alimentar ao redor das escolas durante os períodos de chegada e saída, pois muitas crianças se dirigem até elas a pé ou de bicicleta 20 .…”

“…O estudo que avaliou o número desse tipo de estabelecimento ao redor de escolas primárias e secundárias em Oakland verificou a presença de aproximadamente cinco vendedores (vendas móveis) ao redor de cada escola, que ofertavam alimentos como sorvetes, frutas e hortaliças, raspadinha, tacos, cachorro-quente, churros e milho torrado 20 . A investigação desse tipo de ponto de venda torna-se importante, uma vez que esses geralmente se concentram muito próximos às escolas, além de ofertarem, em sua maioria, alimentos com elevada densidade energética e pobres em nutrientes.…”

Fundraising, celebrations and classroom rewards are substantial sources of unhealthy foods and beverages on public school campuses

“…eliminate or limit competitive food and beverage sales on campuses (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12) . Based upon our findings, restricting vending or competitive food and beverage sales is unlikely to make a significant impact on the consumption of unhealthy foods and beverages during school hours.…”

“…Prevention and treatment recommendations for child obesity have emphasized the importance of changing obesogenic policies and environments, especially in settings where children spend most of their time such as schools (3,4) . The majority of the work done to change nutrition environments in school settings has focused on the quality of school meals and/or reducing unhealthy competitive foods sold on campuses (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11) . These studies relied heavily on self-report surveys to assess the school nutrition environment.…”

“…To date, direct observation has been used to catalogue foods and beverages consumed during school meals (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)12) , competitive foods offered off campus (11) and general vending contents (5) . Although school meals and competitive items sold on and off campus are important components of the school nutrition environment, there are also foods and beverages brought on campus by children from home and by teachers and other school staff.…”