Introduction:
School canteen policies are a key part of whole-of-school approaches to healthy eating, which support childhood learning, growth and lifelong health. In Victoria, the Canteens, Healthy Eating and Other Food Services policy is not mandated or monitored, and menu audits demonstrate poor policy adherence. This study uses e-canteen sales data to i) describe the nutritional rating of top-selling foods and drinks and ii) explore predictors of canteen sales and cost.
Methods:
We analysed canteen sales data from 29 Victorian primary schools who used My School Connect’s tuckshop app throughout 2022. Top-selling meals, drinks and snacks were rated according to Victorian government policy (as ‘Everyday,’ ‘Select carefully,’ ‘Occasionally’ or ‘Never’). We used multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses to identify predictors of healthy (‘Everyday’ vs other) and unhealthy (‘Occasionally’ or ‘Never’ vs other) sales and cost.
Results:
Among the top-selling items (N=402,846, or 95% of all sales), 8% were rated ‘Everyday’, 54% ‘Select carefully’, 19% ‘Occasionally’, 7% ‘Never’ and 12% had insufficient detail to be rated. Adjusting for order characteristics, the odds for healthy sales increased for medium (AOR: 2.13) to large (AOR: 2.80) schools and in areas above the median Socio-Economic Index For Areas (SEIFA) (AOR: 2.18). Odds for healthy sales decreased for schools with a canteen that is open daily (AOR: 0.41) and schools above the median Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA)(AOR: 0.39). Odds for unhealthy sales increased for schools in regional areas (AOR: 3.82) and decreased in areas above the median SEIFA (AOR: 0.53). The average meal price decreased with nutritional rating.
Conclusions:
Sales of items with poor nutritional value are common among Victorian primary schools, particularly for schools in regional and disadvantaged areas. Stronger regulation, monitoring, and targeted support for disadvantaged schools is required to improve the healthiness of the school food environment.