[Analysis of the characteristics of door-to-door advertising sent by supermarkets in the Principality of Asturias (Spain): a cross-sectional study].

BACKGROUND: To analyze which foods and beverages, frequently included in advertising mail delivered by supermarkets in the Principality of Asturias, can be considered essential for consumption by the population, as well as to compare their price with that of essential products. METHODS: Cross-sectional, descriptive study of supermarket sales circulars delivered to seven homes in Asturias (Spain) by four supermarket chains from July to December 2018. Type of product, its classification as essential or non-essential and mean price of the advertised product were registered. RESULTS: The study identified 14,314 products, mostly belonging to the categories: "cakes, pastries, chocolate, sugar, and sweeteners" (15.3?%), "milk and milk derivatives" (9.7?%), "processed meats".and "alcoholic beverages" (8.9?% each) and "ready-made" (8.4?%). Products considered to be non-essential were found to predominate (61.9?%). Significant differences in product type were observed between supermarket chains. Essential products had a lower mean price than the non-essential products, both overall and for each supermarket chain, and was significantly lower for one of them. . CONCLUSIONS: Products which are non-essential from the point of view of health, such as sugar-rich products, processed meats, and alcoholic beverages, dominated the advertising mail delivered door-to-door by supermarkets in the Principality of Asturias. On a positive note, the prices of essential products, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, were, on average, significantly lower than the prices of non-essential products.

Características de los alimentos y bebidas incluidos en la publicidad buzoneada por supermercados en el Principado de Asturias (España): estudio transversal / Analysis of the characteristics of door-to-door advertising sent by supermarkets in the Principality of Asturias (Spain): a cross-sectional study

FUNDAMENTO: Analizar qué alimentos y bebidas, de los que se incluyen con más frecuencia en la publicidad buzoneada por los supermercados en el Principado de Asturias, pueden ser considerados prescindibles para el consumo de la población, y comparar su precio con el de los alimentos esenciales. MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo, transversal, de la publicidad buzoneada en siete domicilios de Asturias (España) por cuatro cadenas de supermercados entre julio y diciembre de 2018. Se registró el tipo de producto, su clasificación como esencial o prescindible y su precio, comparándolos entre cadenas de supermercados. RESULTADOS: Se identificaron 14.314 productos. "Dulces, bollería, chocolates, azúcares y edulcorantes" (15,3 %), "leche y derivados" (9,7 %), "carnes procesadas" y "bebidas alcohólicas" (8,9 % cada categoría) y "precocinados" (8,4 %). Se observó un predominio de productos considerados prescindibles (61,9 %). Se observaron diferencias significativas en cuanto al tipo de producto según la cadena comercial. El precio medio de los productos esenciales fue menor que el de los prescindibles, tanto globalmente como en cada cadena comercial, siendo la diferencia significativa en una de ellas. CONCLUSIONES: En la publicidad buzoneada por los supermercados en los domicilios de Asturias predominan los productos considerados como prescindibles desde el punto de vista de la salud como ricos en azúcar, carnes procesadas y alcohol. En sentido positivo destaca que el precio de los productos esenciales, como frutas y verduras frescas, fue, de media, significativamente menor que el de los prescindibles

BACKGROUND: To analyze which foods and beverages, frequently included in advertising mail delivered by supermarkets in the Principality of Asturias, can be considered essential for consumption by the population, as well as to compare their price with that of essential products. METHODS: Cross-sectional, descriptive study of supermarket sales circulars delivered to seven homes in Asturias (Spain) by four supermarket chains from July to December 2018. Type of product, its classification as essential or non-essential and mean price of the advertised product were registered. RESULTS: The study identified 14,314 products, mostly belonging to the categories: "cakes, pastries, chocolate, sugar, and sweeteners" (15.3 %), "milk and milk derivatives" (9.7 %), "processed meats".and "alcoholic beverages" (8.9 % each) and "ready-made" (8.4 %). Products considered to be non-essential were found to predominate (61.9 %). Significant differences in product type were observed between supermarket chains. Essential products had a lower mean price than the non-essential products, both overall and for each supermarket chain, and was significantly lower for one of them. CONCLUSIONS: Products which are non-essential from the point of view of health, such as sugar-rich products, processed meats, and alcoholic beverages, dominated the advertising mail delivered door-to-door by supermarkets in the Principality of Asturias. On a positive note, the prices of essential products, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, were, on average, significantly lower than the prices of non-essential products