Association between the nutritional quality of Canadian packaged foods and their prices: an analysis across five food categories.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the association between nutritional quality and food prices within the same food category by: (1) identifying price differences among products above or below the nutrient thresholds of the Canadian front-of-package nutrition symbol and (2) investigating price differences among products with differing numbers of nutrients exceeding these thresholds.

Design: This study is part of the Food Quality Observatory's work, Québec (Canada).

Setting: For each product, nutrients exceeding the thresholds for Na, sugars and saturated fat were calculated according to Health Canada's guidelines. Prices per 100 g and per 100 kcal (418 kJ) were calculated. Statistical analyses were performed using RStudio to evaluate the association between these price metrics and nutritional quality, based on these thresholds.

Participants: Five food categories were analysed: sliced breads (n 340), breakfast cereals (n 392), salty snacks (n 569), cookies (n 694) and processed cheeses (n 118).

Results: Results indicate that nutrient type mediates the association between price and nutritional quality. Products exceeding the saturated fat threshold were generally more expensive, whereas those with elevated sugars and Na contents were cheaper. Products with two nutrients exceeding thresholds tended to cost less than those with one or no nutrient above thresholds. Notably, these results varied within each food category. These patterns varied across food categories.

Conclusion: Foods high in nutrients of concern are typically cheaper within their category, except those high in saturated fat. Findings highlight the importance of monitoring food prices, especially as Canada's nutrition symbol policy becomes mandatory, to prevent worsening health inequalities.