Named and shamed

Several UK supermarkets were on the receiving end of the wrath of the Children's Food Campaign for undermining parents' efforts to encourage their children to eat healthily.  The report, Checkouts Checked Out, was highly critical of how much junk food is displayed at checkouts, both in supermarkets and non-food stores.  One of its recommendations is that removal of this kind of food from checkout areas should be included in the Public Health Responsibility Deal, the latest element of which (a calorie reduction initiative) was announced by DH recently. Public Health features an evaluation of the MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutirition ... Do it!) healthy living programme as delivered in the West Midlands.  A systematic review of evidence about the association of childhood obesity with primary school built environments finds little to commend in the literature.  Community Practitioner offers an overview of the Food Dudes school-based healthy eating programme. 

May contain ...

How consumers/patients respond to labelling foods with "may contain" warnings is the subject of a qualitative study in BMC Public Health. A study from the US suggests that consumers' self reported attention to nutrition labelling doesn't match the reality. Published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, the study used an eye-tracking device to measure behaviour, particularly considering label positioning. Closer to home, the Coeliac Society offers commissioners some guidance on community pharmacy supply of gluten free foods.

Not quite the tooth fairy

Much commented on in the press is a systematic review of the benefits of sugar-free products for dental health. The researchers found something of a swings and roundabouts situation: while sugar-free products may help to prevent dental caries, they often also contain acidic flavourings and or preservatives that are damaging to dental enamel. The article goes on to discuss the status of health claims for food: one of the sweeteners singled out for analysis, xylitol, has been approved for marketing as "tooth friendly" and is a common ingredient in chewing gum. The study's authors warn that "the term sugar-free may generate false security because people may automatically believe that sugar-free products are safe on teeth." A recent review of non-fluoride preventive measures for dental caries from the American Dental Association (ADA) considered the evidence for using sugar-free chewing gum preventively was not overly strong. This did not, however, prevent an article in Dentisty.co.uk from suggesting that xylitol had been given the "thumbs up," while the ADA's study merely notes that in high risk patients these treatments may be useful adjuncts to usual care including changes in diet and use of fluoride.