The goal of this study was to determine how to improve school marketing environments so that they align with new federal competitive food standards. The research team assessed the food marketing environments in three schools in Portland, Maine, using the food and beverage marketing in schools (FMBS) survey, and provided schools with technical assistance to help them bring their marketing environments to conform to federal competitive food regulations. Data were collected from each school at baseline, pre-intervention, and post-intervention. The completed pre-intervention surveys were used to inform the improvement process at each school, and revealed noncompliant marketing in all three schools pre-intervention. The research team worked with school administrators and wellness committees to create a feasible marketing removal action plan addressing the marketing found in the assessment and gaps between the existing environment and adherence to new guidelines. Noncompliant marketing was inexpensively removed using a variety of methods, and with assistance from product distributors and the Portland public health department.
Published: March 2017
ID #: 71639
Journal: J Sch Health
Authors: Polacsek M, O'Brien LM, Pratt E, Whatley-Blum J, Adler S
Age Groups: Adolescents (grades 9 to 12), Elementary-age children (grades K to 5), Young adolescents (grades 6 to 8)
Keywords: Beverage contracts, Competitive foods, Digital marketing, Food advertising, Media, Nutrition standards, School wellness policies, Snacks, Vending machines
Focus Areas: Food Marketing, School & After School
Resource Type: Journal Article
State: Maine
Related Research
February 2014
Investigating How to Align Schools’ Marketing Policies with Federal Standards for Competitive Foods
Little is known about school-based digital marketing and how to help schools comply with model policies given new competitive food standards. The specific aims of this study are to: 1) assess the different forms of digital food and beverage marketing that may occur in school settings; 2) assess whether school marketing environments in Portland, Maine, MoreFebruary 2025
More States and Sponsors Are Providing Grab-and-Go Meals to Children during Summer
In 2023, to respond to increased rates of child food insecurity during the summer Congress authorized states to opt in to allowing noncongregate, or “grab-and-go,” summer meal services for students in rural areas. In the summer of 2023, 46 states and DC opted in, and in the summer of 2024 all 50 states and DC MoreDecember 2024