The effect of changes in visibility, information and price on fruit purchasing at a university cafeteria: a pilot study in Lima, Peru
METHODS: This was a pilot study using a quasi-experimental approach in a university cafeteria where approximately150 people (students and non-student adults) purchase food daily. The intervention had three phases, each one lasted three weeks (separated by two 2-week breaks). In phase 1, fruit was displayed >3meters from the register with no additional information. Phase 2 consisted in displaying the fruit by the register in the lunch line with added health and price information. Phase 3 added a one-third price reduction to phase 2 (from $0.57 to $0.38). Twelve students participated in post-intervention interviews. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed and a Kruskal-Wallis test used to compare fruit purchasing between the phases.
RESULTS: Fruit purchasing increased from a total of 14 whole fruits sold in phase 1 to 33 fruits sold in phase 3 (p < 0.01) and remained significant after inclusion of the daily number of meals sold (p < 0.05). Females were a larger percentage of fruit consumers (80% of total sold fruits) although men increased their purchasing from 0 to 11 total fruits between phase 1 and 3 (p<0.01). Non-student adults purchased more fruit with each phase (p<0.05) whereas students did not have a significant change between phases. Almost half of the students interviewed noticed the fruit price had changed and two in twelve students identified price as a barrier to purchase.
CONCLUSIONS: Promoting fruit by product placement close to the point of purchase, information and price reduction had a positive effect on fruit purchasing in a university cafeteria, especially in males and non-student adults.