Frequency of food marketing in recreation and sport facilities differs by presence of food sponsorship agreements and food service contracts in Canada.

Abstract

We aimed to evaluate whether food marketing frequency in recreation and sport facilities (RSFs) in Canada differed by the presence of food sponsorship policies, food sponsorship agreements, and food service contracts. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 85 RSFs using an observational audit using the Food and Beverage Marketing Assessment Tool for Settings (FoodMATS) and a facility survey. All instances of food marketing in RSF were recorded in the FoodMATS and the presence of food sponsorship policies, food sponsorship agreements, and food service contracts from the last fiscal year were reported in the survey by facility managers/directors. Mann-Whitney U tests evaluated differences in food marketing frequency by presence of policies (yes/no), agreements (1+/0), and contracts (1+/0). Food marketing frequency did not differ between RSF with and without a food sponsorship policy (14.5 vs. 18.0, p = 0.37). Food marketing frequency was significantly greater in RSF with food sponsorship agreements (26.5 vs. 12.5, p < 0.001) and food service contracts (60.0 vs. 21.0, p < 0.001), compared to RSF without. Only 22.4% and 16.8% of food marketing instances were linked to current food sponsorship agreements and food service contracts, respectively. Sponsorship agreements and contracts may contribute to food marketing in RSF, but they do not explain all marketing instances. Future research should seek to clarify the origin of food marketing exposures, and the opportunities to use policy documents (e.g., facility policies, sponsorship agreements, and food service contracts) to improve healthy food environments, including food marketing in RSF.