Date of Last Revision
2023-05-02 14:15:05
Major
Food & Environmental Nutrition
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2015
Abstract
The marketing of unhealthy food to children is often cited as a cause of the obesity epidemic.1 However, most studies that examine this issue evaluated the marketing of food through print or television advertising. This project investigates the marketing of food products to children through incentive based programs, specifically General Mill’s Box Tops 4 Education. This study undertakes a preliminary systematic analysis of Box Tops food items to determine their healthfulness. A subset of all Box Tops food products was selected for review and a basic quantitative content analysis of priority nutrients was performed. Priority nutrients were identified based on their relevance to childhood nutrition; they include sugar, fiber, iron, calcium, total fat, saturated fat, and calories per serving. Based of the results of this analysis, average calories per serving is reasonable (151.06 Cal), total fat (5.65 g/serving) and saturated fat (1.67 g/serving) are slightly high, sugar is high (8.08 g/serving), and vital nutrients like fiber (1.79 g/serving), calcium (2% DV), and iron (2% DV) are low. Overall conclusions state Box Tops products are relatively unhealthy.
Research Sponsor
Christin Seher
First Reader
Jennifer Warren
Second Reader
Mary Lynn Crowley
Recommended Citation
Griffith, Hannah, "Preliminary Nutritional Profile Analysis of Box Tops 4 Education Food Products" (2015). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 70.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/70
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Included in
International and Community Nutrition Commons, Marketing Commons, Maternal and Child Health Commons, Public Health Education and Promotion Commons