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In response to the increasing demands for net-zero carbon emissions in Taiwan and globally, this study explores the feasibility of implementing microgrid technologies in convenience stores to reduce carbon emissions. The study utilizes the commercial simulation tool HomerPro to evaluate the performance of integrating solar and wind power into microgrid systems, aligning with Taiwan's current priorities in renewable energy development. The analysis incorporates carbon pricing scenarios, grid reliability considerations, and financial variables such as discount and inflation rates. We simulated 256 system configurations to identify the most economically viable solutions under various conditions. The results indicate that integrating solar and wind energy into microgrid systems can significantly lower energy costs and carbon emissions, especially in high carbon-price scenarios. These benefits provide strong incentives for businesses to adopt carbon-neutral strategies. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and businesses, highlighting the critical role of reducing green power purchase prices in improving economic feasibility. Future research explores the impacts of integrating other renewable energy sources, offering broader technical support for achieving carbon neutrality., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Author.)

The convenience store industry in Japan holds immense significance, making a thorough comprehension of customer purchase behaviour invaluable for companies aiming to gain insights into their customer base. In this paper, we propose a novel application of a Markov network model to simulate purchases guided by stopping probabilities calculated from real data. Each node in the Markov network represents different product categories available for purchase. Additionally, we introduce the concept of a "driving force," quantifying the influence of purchasing product A on the likelihood of purchasing product B, compared to random purchasing. For instance, our analysis reveals that the inclusion of nutrient bars in a purchase set leads to, on average, a 13% reduction in tobacco purchases compared to random patterns. To validate our approach, we compare the simulated macro-level purchase behaviours with real point of Sale (POS) data obtained from a prominent convenience store giant, 7-Eleven. The dataset is comprised of roughly 54 million receipts, in which we focus on the product categories existing in this dataset rather than individual products. Our model successfully replicates the purchase size distribution for 99.9% of all purchases and the purchase counts across various product categories, demonstrating its efficacy in capturing broad purchase patterns., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: This study investigated the feasibility of in-store signage promoting sparkling water and the impact of this signage on sparkling water sales in convenience stores., Design: We conducted a randomized control trial., Setting: Convenience stores in North Carolina., Participants: Twenty-four convenience stores in neighborhoods with a higher proportion of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-eligible households., Intervention(s): The 24 eligible stores were randomized to receive the in-store signage promoting sparkling water or to the control condition of no change. One poster was hung on the beverage cooler doors in front of the sparkling water selections at each of the 12 participating stores. Weekly sales data and fidelity checks were collected., Main Outcome Measure(s): The primary outcome measure was sales of total water, and the subanalysis was sales of sparkling water., Analysis: T tests were conducted to assess changes in total water and sparkling water sales between intervention and control stores., Results: In-store signage did not significantly increase sales of sparkling water, or all water, during the intervention., Conclusions and Implications: Signage alone may not be enough to impact healthy beverage purchasing, and signage should be paired with other promotional components to increase healthy beverage purchases in convenience stores., (Copyright © 2024 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The prevalence of obesity in the Mexican school-age (5-11 years old) population increased from 8.9 to 18.1% between 1999 and 2022. Although overweight and obesity (OW + Ob) is a complex and multifactorial phenomenon, alongside its increasing trend, changes in eating patterns as a result of obesogenic environments that promote higher energy intake have been documented. The objective of the present study was to detect possible associations between schools and their proximity to and density of convenience stores in Monterrey, Mexico from 2015 to 2018., Materials and Methods: Anthropometric data were obtained from a subset of measurements of the National Registry of Weight and Height (RNPT) performed in the Monterrey Mexico metropolitan area in 2015 and 2018, and obesity prevalence was computed and classified into quintiles at the school level. Convenience store data were obtained from the National Directory of Economic Units (DNUE). The analyses consisted of densities within 400-800 m buffers, distance to the nearest stores, and cartographic visualization of the store's kernel density versus OW + Ob hotspots for both periods., Results: A total of 175,804 children in 2015 and 175,964 in 2018 belonging to 1,552 elementary schools were included in the study; during this period, OW + Ob prevalence increased from 38.7 to 39.3%, and a directly proportional relationship was found between the quintiles with the higher OW + Ob prevalence and the number of stores for both radii. Hotspots of OW + Ob ranged from 63 to 91 between 2015 and 2018, and it was visually confirmed that such spots were associated with areas with a higher density of convenience stores regardless of socioeconomic conditions., Conclusion: Although some relationships between the store's proximity/density and OW + Ob could be identified, more research is needed to gather evidence about this. However, due to the trends and the magnitude of the problem, guidelines aimed at limiting or reducing the availability of junk food and sweetened beverages on the school's periphery must be implemented to control the obesogenic environment., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Ávila Arcos, Shamah Levy, Del Monte Vega, Chávez Villasana and Ávila Curiel.)

Background: Convenience stores in Guatemala provide essential consumer goods in communities, but many dispense antibiotics illegally. Federal legislation, passed in August of 2019, requires prescriptions for antibiotic purchase at pharmacies but it is unclear if this legislation is enforced or if it has any impact on unlawful sales of antibiotics., Methods: To determine if antibiotic availability changed in convenience stores, we carried out a repeated measures study collecting antibiotic availability data before and after implementation of the dispensing regulation., Results: There was no statistical difference in the proportion of convenience stores that sold antibiotics before and after antibiotic regulations [66.6% (295/443) and 66.7% (323/484), respectively, P>0.96], nor in the number of stores selling amoxicillin [55.5% (246/443) and 52.3% (253/484), respectively, P>0.96], but fewer stores (20%) sold tetracycline capsules after regulation was passed (P<0.05). For stores visited both before and after passage of legislation (n=157), 15% stopped selling antibiotics while 25% started selling antibiotics. Antibiotics from convenience stores were reportedly sold for use in people and animals., Conclusions: Antibiotics remain widely available in convenience stores consistent with no significant change in the informal sector after implementation of prescription requirements for pharmacies. Importantly, effects from regulatory change could have been masked by potential changes in antibiotic use during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Evidence for the effectiveness of menthol cigarette bans comes mostly from studies of adults that smoke. This experiment evaluated whether the absence of menthol products from a convenience store influenced young people's susceptibility to cigarette smoking after they shopped in the store., Methods: This experiment took place in the RAND StoreLab (RSL), a life-sized research convenience store. A three-group, between-subjects design was used. Study conditions differed in the mix of flavored tobacco products the RSL displayed: 1) All tobacco-, sweet-, and menthol-flavors displayed; 2) only tobacco- and menthol-flavors displayed; and 3) only tobacco-flavors displayed. Participants were randomly assigned to shop in the RSL under one of these conditions and after shopping, completed measures of their susceptibility to cigarette smoking, one measure for menthol cigarettes and one for unflavored cigarettes (scores on each susceptibility measure was dichotomized: 0 = not susceptible; 1 = susceptible)., Results: Multivariable logistic regression assessed the main effects of condition on susceptibility to smoking menthol and unflavored cigarettes. There was no condition effect on susceptibility to smoking unflavored cigarettes. However, removing menthol-flavored products significantly increased participants' susceptibility to smoking menthol cigarettes compared to when all flavored products were available (OR = 3.66, 95% CI [1.33, 10.03]). This significant effect was only found among young people with some pre-existing risk of cigarette smoking (OR = 5.92, 95% CI [1.81, 19.39])., Conclusion: Results suggest the need to consider that menthol bans could unintentionally increase the appeal of menthol cigarettes among youth already at risk of smoking., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest No conflicts declared., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: In Japan, people have rich access to 24-h convenience stores where they can buy sweets, juice and fluoride hygiene products, among others. However, the association between the number of convenience stores in a neighbourhood and caries in elementary school children status has not been studied. This study aimed to investigate this particular association., Methods: Data were derived from a population-based longitudinal cohort study (A-CHILD study) of elementary school children from first-grade to fourth-grade in Adachi City, Tokyo. Caregivers were asked to complete a questionnaire in 2015, 2016, and 2018. A total of 3,136 caregivers provided a valid response. We analysed the association using multilevel Poisson regression., Results: The mean number of caries among children in school districts with low, middle, and high number of convenience stores was 0.31 (SD: 0.81), 0.21 (SD: 0.69), and 0.16 (SD: 0.58). After covariate adjustment, children in the school districts with high and middle number of convenience stores had 44% (mean ratio 0.56, 95% CI: 0.31, 0.998) and 31% (mean ratio 0.69, 95% CI: 0.42, 1.13) fewer caries in their permanent teeth, respectively, than children in the school districts with low number of convenience stores. We also found dose-response relationship ( p for trend: 0.042)., Conclusion: Higher number of convenience stores in a school district was associated with fewer caries in permanent teeth among elementary school children. Further study elucidating the mechanism on this protective association is warranted., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Nawa, Nishimura, Matsuyama, Doi, Isumi and Fujiwara.)

Accessing healthy food is a challenge for many. Healthy corner store initiatives have proven successful at promoting healthy food access nationwide. Recent data suggest that 11.8% of Clark County residents and 17.1% of Henderson, Nevada, residents experienced food insecurity. It is crucial to assess the current perceptions and practices of the community before pursuing policy change to ensure that pilot programs reflect its members' needs. This study aimed to identify which healthy foods consumers would like to see offered in convenience stores, assess purchasing behaviors, and explore barriers preventing store owners from carrying healthy foods. In doing so, this study aimed to ensure that the needs of owners and consumers are reflected in local policy changes. Project staff collected data through two approaches: (a) convenience store owner interviews (n = 2; who represented eight stores total) and (b) consumer intercept surveys (n = 88) within low-income census tracts of Henderson, Nevada. The cost of healthy foods-for storeowners and consumers-was a major factor when selecting items to stock. Storeowners also described key contextual barriers such as minimum purchasing requirements, city regulations limiting promotions, and healthy, fresh food not being in high enough demand for the many transient customers passing through. Survey respondents' most commonly reported barrier to accessing healthy food was their lack of availability in convenience stores, suggesting it would be beneficial if stores offered healthier options to increase access. The results of this study will inform the community's next steps to increase access to healthy foods, including implementing a pilot healthy corner store project and a City-sponsored marketing campaign. Our methods and lessons learned may be useful for other municipalities considering health corner and convenience store initiatives.

Background: Marketing strategies for sweetened beverages (SBs) are pervasive across food retail. Yet few studies have examined how these strategies associate with planned and unplanned SB purchasing., Objective: This study aimed to examine whether customers with greater exposure to SB retail marketing (eg, advertisements and product placement) were more likely to purchase an SB and whether this varied by customer characteristics., Design: This was an observational, cross-sectional study using objective customer purchasing and store assessment data from convenience and other small food stores., Participants/setting: Participants were 1,604 food and beverage customers at 144 randomly sampled convenience and other small food stores in Minneapolis-St Paul, MN., Exposure: Marketing strategies, including SB advertisements, placement, and shelf space were included., Main Outcome Measures: We determined the probability of customers purchasing ≥4 fluid ounces of a ready-to-drink sugar and/or artificially sweetened beverage., Statistical Analyses Performed: Associations between marketing strategies and purchasing were estimated using mixed regression models, controlling for customer characteristics and accounting for customers nested within stores., Results: Fifty-six percent of customers purchased an SB; 14% also specified that it was an unplanned purchase. Customers were more likely to purchase an SB when exterior advertisements (P &lt; .001) and advertisements hanging from the ceiling (P &lt; .001) that promoted SBs were present. Customers with moderate and high cumulative exposure to SB marketing were significantly more likely to purchase SBs (51.2% and 54.9%, respectively) than those with lower exposure (34%); this effect was particularly salient for men. There were no significant associations between retail marketing strategies and unplanned purchases., Conclusions: Findings demonstrate that feasible and sustainable approaches are required from policy makers, retailers, and public health professionals to shift store environments away from cues that promote unhealthy beverage selections. Given that numerous retail actors are invested in the availability, promotion, and sales of SBs, changing the predominance of SB marketing in convenience stores will likely be challenging and require cross-sector collaboration., (Copyright © 2022 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Convenience stores play an important role in supporting community-dwelling older adults' lives. We started community-based participatory research (CBPR) in Nerima City, Tokyo Metropolitan area in Japan to develop a collaborative relationship to support older adults in the community-based integrated care system., Objectives: This study aimed to describe the CBPR process and evaluate building face-to-face relationships between health/social care professionals and the owners/employees of convenience stores., Methods: Using CBPR, health/social care professionals in community general support centers (CGSCs) directly approached convenience stores based on the public support agreement between the convenience store chain company and the municipality. To evaluate the face-to-face relationship building between convenience store owners/employees and CGSCs' staff, we administered questionnaire surveys to convenience stores in Nerima City and two control cities from 2017 to 2019, and about 100 convenience stores completed the survey each year., Results: Statistical analyses showed significant improvements in their knowledge for relationships with the CGSCs in Nerima City, including "knowledge of the CGSCs' function" (P = 0.001), "knowing individual professionals in the CGSCs" (P = 0.023), and "knowledge of when to contact the CGSCs" (P = 0.002), compared with control cities. Helping behavior for older adults at convenience stores also increased significantly in Nerima City (P = 0.034)., Conclusions: The CGSCs' direct approach based on the public support agreement would effectively promote building relationships at convenience stores, leading to an age-friendly community.

Introduction: New Zealand's Smokefree 2025 goal aims to greatly decrease the availability of tobacco. One option is to cease the sale of tobacco from convenience stores. However, tobacco companies and retail trade associations oppose this move and have argued that customers who purchase tobacco drive footfall and spend more than non-tobacco customers. The aim of this study is to test the validity of industry claims about the importance of tobacco to convenience stores., Methods: During November and December 2019, immediate postpurchase surveys were undertaken with customers on exit from a random sample of 100 convenience stores in two New Zealand cities. We estimated the mean number of items purchased, including tobacco and non-tobacco items, and mean expenditure on non-tobacco items., Results: Of the 3399 transactions recorded, 13.8% included tobacco, of which 8.3% comprised tobacco only and 5.5% included tobacco and non-tobacco items. The mean number of transactions containing both tobacco and non-tobacco items was 1.98, and 1.87 for those containing non-tobacco items only. Customers who purchased tobacco and non-tobacco items spent on average NZ$6.99 on non-tobacco items, whereas customers who purchased non-tobacco items only, spent on average NZ$5.07., Conclusions: Our results do not support claims that tobacco drives one-quarter of footfall into stores or that customers who purchase tobacco spend almost twice as much as non-tobacco customers. Combined purchases of tobacco and non-tobacco items constituted 5.5% of transactions; the impact on a store's profitability of removing tobacco sales is unknown and could be the focus of future research., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Food environment (FE) has been linked to obesity in urban areas, but there is limited information in rural areas, particularly in developing countries, where prevalence of obesity is high., Objective: To determine the association between FE and childhood obesity using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)., Methods: A total of 218 (8-10 years) children participated in a cross-sectional study. Weight, height, and body fat were measured. Geolocation of convenience stores (CS) and participants' households was collected, and the amount of processed food (PF) in the stores was measured. The proximity to the nearest CS and the number of CS within a 250-m buffer from each participant's household was calculated using GIS. Linear regression models between obesity measurements and FE were performed., Results: The combined prevalence of overweight and obesity was 32%. A total of 91% of the children had access to a CS within 250 m. On average, 48% of the shelf-space of the CS were occupied with PF. A positive association between the density of CS with body fat % (β = .145; 95% CI, 0.048-0.241, P = .004), abdominal fat % (β = .206; 95% CI, 0.048-0.241, P = .003), and body mass index (BMI)-for-age z -score (BMIz; β = .028; 95% CI, 0.005-0.062, P = .005) was found. Living closer to CS was associated with increases in body fat % (β = -0.009; 95% CI, -0.017 to -0.001, P = 0.025), abdominal fat % (β = -0.012; 95% CI, -0.023 to -0.001, P = 0.033), and BMIz (β = -0.002, 95% CI, -0.004 to -0.001, P = 0.003)., Conclusion: In a rural community in Mexico, a high density and low proximity to CS is associated with obesity in school-aged children.

Among U.S. adolescents, foods/beverages that are store-bought (i.e., from grocery and convenience stores) are significant contributors of energy intake. However, it remains unclear (1) what foods/beverages are consumed by U.S. adolescents from grocery and convenience stores and (2) if there are differences in foods/beverages consumed by store type. Therefore, we analyzed 29,216 eating occasions from adolescents (12-19 years; n = 4065) in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2018 to report food/beverage groups and nutrients consumed from grocery and convenience stores. Differences in food/beverage groups and nutrient densities by store type were calculated using multiple logistic and linear regressions. Adolescents were more likely to consume "Beverages" and "Snacks and Sweets" and less likely to consume "Grains", "Protein", "Milk and Dairy", "Condiments and Sauces", and "Fruits" from convenience compared to grocery stores (all p < 0.0025). Foods/beverages from convenience stores were higher in carbohydrates, total sugar, and added sugar and lower in protein, fat, saturated fat, sodium, and fiber than those from grocery stores (all p < 0.0025). In conclusion, while foods/beverages from convenience stores are more energy-dense and nutrient-poor, there is a critical need to increase the availability, accessibility, and affordability of healthier foods/beverages in both store types to encourage healthier dietary behaviors among U.S. adolescents.

Background: Healthy retail interventions are a recommended intervention strategy to address diet-related diseases, such as obesity and diabetes; however, retail managers are concerned about their bottom line. This study's aim was to assess the impact of a healthy retail intervention on fruits and vegetables (FV) sales, as well as total sales, in tribally owned convenience stores where grocery stores are scarce., Method: We analyzed weekly sales data over the first 6 months of a healthy retail intervention. We assessed the proportion of sales from two FV baskets. The FV basket included all fresh, canned, and dried FV sold at stores; while the fruits, vegetables, and salads (FVS) basket included all FV items as well as all salads sold. We compared mean weekly sales rates in intervention and control stores over the 6-month period using generalized estimating equations models to account for repeated measures., Results: Mean weekly FV basket sales rates were higher in intervention stores than control stores in both Nations. Mean weekly FVS baskets sales were significantly higher in intervention stores than control stores in one Nation and were higher, but not statistically significant, in intervention stores in the other Nation. Total sales remained steady throughout the intervention period., Conclusions: The THRIVE (Tribal Health and Resilience in Vulnerable Environments) intervention increased FV sales without negatively affecting total sales. Policy and Practice Implications . Healthy retail interventions in tribal convenience stores, where many Native Americans living in rural areas shop due to scarcity of grocery stores, could improve diet-related disparities without reducing total sales.

Plastics have multiple applications in disposable products, high-end technology parts, etc., owing to their functionality and manufacturing flexibility. However, their increased use has increased the global proportion of plastic wastes, which creates a serious environmental issue, thereby, creating a demand for plastic waste management techniques. Improving the efficiency of resource recovery by appropriate sorting and collection systems is necessary for successful plastic recycling. Therefore, this study proposed a three-step optimization process of a reverse vending machine (RVM), a small automatic recyclable waste sorter/collector system, for acquiring an optimal design and enhanced efficiency. The RVM system categorized recyclable wastes as plastics, glass, and cans using barcode, vision, and near infrared sensors. The average sorting efficiency of the designed RVM system was 94%, 95% for polyethylene terephthalate, and 98% for glass bottles. Therefore, the RVM system, with the average sorting efficiency of 95%, is suitable for application in on-site sorting in small-sized areas, such as convenience stores, which generate wastes on a small scale. Implications : This study proposed a three-step optimization process of a reverse vending machine (RVM), a small automatic recyclable waste sorter/collector system, for acquiring an optimal design and enhanced efficiency. The RVM system is suitable for application in on-site sorting in small-sized areas, such as convenience stores, which generate wastes on a small scale.

Aim: The dementia supporter training program is conducted by community general support centers (CGSCs) to raise dementia awareness. Convenience stores are widespread throughout Japan, and they play an important role in the daily lives of older adults. We examined whether participation of convenience stores in the program promotes cooperation between the stores and CGSCs., Methods: Using data from a nationwide survey, we conducted a longitudinal observational study. Participation of stores in the program and cooperation with CGSC were measured. The proportion of cooperation with CGSCs in 2017 and 2018 were compared between stores that had already participated in the program in 2016 (participation group) and those that did not (non-participation group)., Results: Of the 14 884 stores, 542 stores participated in the program in 2016. In 2017 and 2018, 8.1% and 7.2% of the participation group cooperated with CGSCs, while 3.2% and 4.0% of the non-participation group did., Conclusions: Dementia supporter training programs could be an opportunity to promote cooperation between convenience stores and CGSCs to support older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 956-960., (© 2020 Japan Geriatrics Society.)

Increasing rates of childhood obesity worldwide has focused attention on the obesogenic food environment. This paper reports an analysis of children's interactions with food in convenience stores. Kids'Cam was a cross-sectional study conducted from July 2014 to June 2015 in New Zealand in which 168 randomly selected children aged 11-14 years old wore a wearable camera for a 4-day period. In this ancillary study, images from children who visited a convenience store were manually coded for food and drink availability. Twenty-two percent of children ( n = 37) visited convenience stores on 62 occasions during the 4-day data collection period. Noncore items dominated the food and drinks available to children at a rate of 8.3 to 1 (means were 300 noncore and 36 core, respectively). The food and drinks marketed in-store were overwhelmingly noncore and promoted using accessible placement, price offers, product packaging, and signage. Most of the 70 items purchased by children were noncore foods or drinks (94.6%), and all of the purchased food or drink subsequently consumed was noncore. This research highlights convenience stores as a key source of unhealthy food and drink for children, and policies are needed to reduce the role of convenience stores in the obesogenic food environment.

Childhood obesity increases the risk of adulthood obesity and is associated with other adverse health outcomes later in life. It may be influenced by environmental characteristics of neighborhoods where children live, particularly dietary supply-related environmental factors. This study aimed to systematically review the evidence on the association between access to convenience stores and childhood obesity. We searched and filtered relevant literature in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library published before 1 January 2019. Data on the basic characteristics of studies, measures of access to convenience stores, and associations of convenience stores with weight-related behaviors and outcomes were extracted from 41 included studies. In general, the density of and proximity to convenience stores in children's residential and school neighborhoods were positively associated with unhealthy eating behaviors. However, their associations with children's weight status varied significantly by regions. The association between convenience store access and children's weight status was found to be negative in Canada, rather mixed in the United States and the United Kingdom, and not significant in East Asia. We suggest future research to clearly define the convenience store, better measure the access to convenience store, and also measure children's journey and food purchasing and consumption behaviors, to explain pathways from convenience store access to childhood obesity for designing effective interventions and policies., (© 2019 The Authors. Obesity Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of World Obesity Federation.)

Medication distribution service can be delivered based on a combination of home delivery and customer pickup. That is, medications are delivered either to customers' homes directly or to the pickup facilities (e.g. lockers) close to customers' homes. In Taiwan, there are more than 11,000 convenience stores that provide a 24-h service for customers to pick up the ordered items from e-commerce, which is unique to the world. In the medication distribution system, convenience stores can provide a unique opportunity for customers to more conveniently collect medications at stores, and also can reduce the operating cost for a logistics company providing the medication delivery service. Therefore, this work proposes a medication distribution system through convenience stores, lockers, and home delivery. Under this system, this work investigates how to simultaneously determine employment of convenience store chains, the convenience store locations to be visited, locations of lockers, vehicle routes for convenience stores and lockers, and vehicle routes for customers' homes, so that the total operating cost is minimized. This work further proposes a genetic algorithm to solve the medication distribution problem. Through simulation, the experimental results show that the proposed algorithm is able to solve the problem efficiently.

Convenience stores play an important role in supporting community-dwelling older adults' lives. This study aimed to describe the development of and to evaluate an educational program to promote collaboration between communities and convenience stores in Japan. We developed the educational program based on interviews of convenience store staff to encourage them to collaborate with health/social care professionals for helping older adults. We conducted pre- and post-program questionnaire surveys of 184 participants to evaluate the program. After the program, the total score for attitudes toward dementia ( p = .010) improved significantly among the convenience store staff. On the contrary, the score for "solidarity and proactiveness," a subscale for sense of community, improved significantly among health/social care professionals ( p = .003). This educational program can have a significant effect on the perceptions and attitudes for supporting older adults, depending on the participants' occupations. This educational program could foster community networks, leading to an age-friendly community.

In rural American Indian (AI) communities, where supermarkets are rare, tribally owned and operated convenience stores are an important food source. Food environment measures for these settings are needed to understand and address the significant diet-related disparities among AIs. Through a tribal-university partnership that included tribal health and commerce representatives from two Native Nations in rural southeastern Oklahoma, we developed the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey for Tribal Convenience Stores (NEMS-TCS) to inform the development and evaluation of a healthy food retail intervention. The NEMS-TCS assessed four scored domains of the rural convenience store food environment-food availability, pricing, quality, and placement-and included 11 food categories that emphasized ready-to-eat food items. Trained raters administered the NEMS-TCS using a sample of 18 rural convenience stores (primarily ranging between 2,400 and 3,600 square feet). We assessed interrater reliability with kappa statistics for dichotomized variables and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for continuous variables. NEMS-TCS demonstrated high inter-rater reliability for all food categories (>85% agreement), subscores (ICC = 0.73-1.00), and the total score (ICC = 0.99). The NEMS-TCS responds to recent calls for reliable measures for rural food environments and may be valuable for studying food environments of large convenience stores in other Native Nations as well as other rural settings.

Introduction: The Lower Mississippi Delta is characterized by several factors associated with poor diet quality. Our objective was to measure local nutrition environments of pregnant women and their infants who participated in a nutrition and physical activity intervention to assess environmental exposures potentially influencing their dietary habits., Methods: We measured the nutrition environments of 5 towns in which participants resided by using the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey for grocery stores, convenience stores, full-service restaurants, and fast food restaurants. We used general linear models to test for differences in ratio scores, calculated by dividing each food outlet score by the maximum score possible, among food outlet classes and subclasses., Results: Mean total ratio scores (expressed as percentages) for the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey among 4 classes of food outlets were significantly different from one another except for convenience stores and full-service restaurants. On average, grocery stores (n = 11) had 54% of maximum points possible, followed by full-service restaurants (21%; n = 50), convenience stores (16%; n = 86), and fast food restaurants (8%; n = 119). We found no significant differences in mean total ratio scores among convenience store subclasses. For fast food restaurant subclasses, stand-alone restaurants (n = 81) had 19% of maximum points possible, significantly higher than grocery store delicatessens (6%; n = 8), corner stores that sold fast food (3%; n = 5), and gas stations that sold fast food (4%; n = 25)., Conclusion: These 5 Lower Mississippi Delta towns scored low on nutrition environment measures associated with healthful eating. Behavioral interventions designed to bring about positive changes in dietary habits of rural residents are needed; however, effects may be minimal if environmental factors supportive of healthful eating are not available.

Background: Food environments have rapidly changed over the past years in China and children have more access to unhealthy food in convenience stores near schools. Since the studies on the association between convenience stores near schools and obesity had inconsistent results and no similar study in China, we conducted a study on the association in Beijing of China, which will provide scientific evidence for the intervention of childhood obesity., Methods: The study included 2201 students at grade 4 of 37 primary schools in Dongcheng or Miyun district of Beijing. The food environment data was acquired from AMAP, the free web-based geospatial service provider. The numbers of convenience stores were captured within the 800-m network buffer near schools using Geographic Information System. The weight and height of each student were measured by trained health professionals. Students' dietary and physical behaviors and other information associated with obesity were collected with questionnaires for students and their parents. The generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) was used to analyze the data., Results: The average age of the students was 10.2 years (Standard Deviation (SD) = 0.33). The prevalence of obesity in students was 14.9%. The median number of convenience stores within the 800-m network buffer near schools was 24 in two districts. The number of convenience stores near each school varied from 5 to 67 (median: 25) in Dongcheng district and from 1 to 57 (median: 22) in Miyun district. After adjusting for the confounding factors at the family and individual levels, the association between convenience stores and childhood obesity was statistically significant. Additional ten convenience stores near schools were associated with an increased risk of obesity (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.13, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03,1.24, P = 0.011). Compared with less than 24 convenience stores near schools, the students with more than or equal to 24 convenience stores near schools had an increased risk of obesity (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.09, 2.03, P = 0.013)., Conclusion: The students with more convenience stores near their schools had an increased risk of obesity. The findings provided evidence for developing public health policy to restrict the number of convenience stores near schools to prevent and control childhood obesity.

The aim of this study was to describe trends in calories among food items sold in U.S. convenience stores and pizza restaurant chains from 2013 to 2017 - a period leading up to the implementation of the federal menu labeling mandate. Using data from the MenuStat project, we conducted quantile regression analyses in 2018 to estimate the predicted median per-item calories among menu items available at convenience stores ( n  = 1522) and pizza restaurant chains ( n  = 2085) - two retailers that have been openly resistant to implementing menu labeling - and assessed whether core food items were reformulated during the study period. We also compared calories in food items available for sale on convenience store and pizza restaurant menus to calories in items that were newly added or dropped. We found that leading up to the national menu labeling implementation date, convenience stores showed a significant decreasing trend in median calories of overall menu items (390 kcals in 2013 vs. 334 kcals in 2017, p -value for trend <0.01) and among appetizers and sides (367 kcals in 2013 vs. 137 kcals in 2017, p-value for trend = 0.02). Pizza restaurants introduced lower-calorie pizza options in 2017, but no other significant changes in calories were observed. Going forward, it will be important to track calorie changes in convenience stores and pizza restaurant chains as both food establishments represent significant sources of calories for Americans., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: none.

Introduction: Arguments regarding the importance of tobacco to convenience stores could impede the adoption of tobacco retail reduction policies. Although trade associations argue tobacco constitutes two-thirds of convenience store sales and drives footfall, few studies have tested these claims. We therefore examined the prevalence and characteristics of tobacco purchases at convenience stores in Dunedin, New Zealand., Methods: We conducted a postpurchase survey at 20 convenience stores, each visited for three 60 min intervals over a 4-week period. We used descriptive statistics to determine proportions and 95% CIs of transactions that contained tobacco and those that contained only non-tobacco items. We estimated the mean number of items purchased, the mean number of non-tobacco items purchased and mean expenditure on non-tobacco items., Results: Fourteen per cent of transactions contained tobacco (n=95/679); of those, 64% comprised tobacco only. Only 5% of all transactions included both tobacco and non-tobacco products. The mean number of non-tobacco items purchased was 1.9 for transactions containing only non-tobacco products and 1.7 for transactions containing both tobacco and non-tobacco products. After excluding the cost of tobacco, people who purchased tobacco and non-tobacco products spent on average $5.11 on non-tobacco items, whereas people who purchased only non-tobacco items spent on average $6.85., Conclusions: Tobacco products constitute a small proportion of items purchased from Dunedin convenience stores and are typically not purchased with non-tobacco items. Our findings are inconsistent with arguments that most small retailers rely on tobacco sales., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objective: To determine whether neighbourhood supermarket and convenience store availability and broader built environment context are associated with food purchasing behaviour in a national population., Design: We used observational data to perform a cross-sectional study of food purchases for US households in 2010. We used three-level mixed-effect regression models to determine whether the associations between the number of neighbourhood supermarkets and convenience stores and the self-reported annual household expenditures for fruits and vegetables were affected by regional destination accessibility, neighbourhood destination diversity, availability of neighbourhood destinations and neighbourhood street connectivity., Setting: Metropolitan statistical areas (n 378) in the USA., Participants: Households (n 22 448)., Results: When we controlled for broader built environment context, there was no significant association between availability of neighbourhood supermarkets and expenditures on fruits and vegetables; instead, we observed an inverse association between the number of convenience stores and expenditures for fruits (P = 0·001). The broader built environment context was associated with food purchase, although the magnitude was small: (i) higher regional destination accessibility was associated with higher expenditures for fruits (P < 0·001); (ii) higher neighbourhood destination diversity was associated with lower expenditures for vegetables (P = 0·002); and (iii) higher neighbourhood street connectivity was associated with higher expenditures for fruits (P < 0·001)., Conclusions: The broader built environment factors contributed to understanding how people use neighbourhood food stores. However, there was only a small relationship between the broader environment context and fruit and vegetable expenditures. Policy interventions that focus exclusively on increasing the availability of neighbourhood supermarkets likely will not promote fruit and vegetable consumption.

Background: The Tribal Health Resilience in Vulnerable Environments (THRIVE) study aimed to increase healthy food access in 2 rural American Indian communities. The intervention sought to increase fruit and vegetable availability, variety, and convenience through placement, promotion, and pricing of healthy foods and beverages in tribal convenience stores., Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the development and implementation of the study process evaluation tool to assess intervention fidelity as part of this cluster-controlled trial., Methods: Eight stores (2 intervention and 2 control stores per Nation) participated in the study, implemented from May 2016 to May 2017. A web-based survey tailored to store layouts and intervention components assessed how often intervention items were available, approximate quantity available, and whether placement of healthier food items and promotional materials were implemented as designed. After pilot testing the survey, tribal staff members implemented it to collect process evaluation data in the 8 stores during a period of 9-12 mo, assessing study implementation and potential changes in control stores., Results: Promotional materials were available ≥75% of the time for most intervention locations. Fruit availability was similar in Nation A and Nation B intervention stores (79-100% compared with 70-100%), whereas fresh vegetable availability was higher in Nation B compared with Nation A (95-96% compared with 55-75%). Both control stores in Nation A and 1 control store in Nation B had moderate fruit and vegetable availability, ranging from 45% to 52%. No control stores in either Nation used intervention promotional materials., Conclusions: Process evaluation data indicate that the study was implemented with moderate to high fidelity. The development and implementation of the tool can inform future healthy retail interventions that aim to improve rural and tribal food environments., (Copyright © The Author(s) 2019.)

Objective: On ageing, and as physical functionality declines, shopping for food and commodities can become a challenge. In Japan, convenience stores (CVSs) play an important role in older people's daily lives. This study investigated the relationship between the geographical accessibility of CVSs, supermarkets and grocery stores and shopping independence., Methods: We used the administrative long-term care insurance data from a sample of 7703 older adults. The spatial coverages of the stores were calculated using a geographic information system. A multilevel regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between neighbourhood spatial coverage and individual shopping independence., Results: After adjusting for demographic characteristics, individual functioning and neighbourhood-level population density, the regression analysis revealed that the CVSs spatial coverage was negatively associated with a risk of shopping dependence (odds ratio = 0.73, P = 0.03)., Conclusion: The findings suggest that geographical accessibility of CVSs may be beneficial for maintaining shopping independence., (© 2019 AJA Inc.)

Previous studies have revealed that the density of convenience stores in the neighborhood was associated with chronic diseases. In Japan, convenience stores are more common, and it is thus more important to assess whether people use convenience stores than the density or availability of the convenience stores. In this cross-sectional study of patients with type 2 diabetes, the association between the usage of the convenience stores and dietary habits or the prevalence of hypertension was evaluated. Among the 206 men and 161 women in the study, 24 men and 9 women used convenience stores three or more times per week. Fruit and vegetable intake (men, 132 (102-191) vs. 192 (128-267) g/1000 kcal, p = 0.019; and women, 178 (132-207) vs. 239 (172-313) g/1000 kcal, p = 0.063) of patients who frequently use convenience stores was lower compared to those who did not. Net endogenous acid production score (men, 55.2 (45.4-65.2) vs. 48.9 (42.3-56.8) mEq/day, p = 0.013; and women, 56.9 (52.6-59.8) vs. 46.3 (40.9-54.0) mEq/day, p = 0.050) and intake of carbohydrate to fiber ratio (men, 21.5 (20.0-29.3) vs. 19.9 (15.7-25.0), p = 0.052; and women, 21.0 (18.9-23.9) vs. 16.2 (13.8-20.3), p = 0.017) of patients who frequently use convenience stores were higher compared to those who did not. Additionally, frequent usage of convenience stores was associated with the prevalence of hypertension after adjusting for covariates (5.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-22.50; p = 0.035). In conclusion, frequent usage of convenience stores is associated with low diet quality and the prevalence of hypertension.

Objectives. To assess a healthy retail intervention in Tribal convenience stores in Oklahoma. Methods. We adapted healthy retail strategies to the context of 8 Tribally owned stores. We assessed individual- and store-level outcomes in a cluster-controlled intervention trial (April 2016-June 2017). We measured fruit and vegetable intake, store environment perceptions, and purchases before and after the intervention among a cohort of 1637 Native American shoppers. We used mixed-effects linear regression to estimate pre- to postintervention changes in and between groups. Results. We followed 74% of participants (n = 1204) 9 to 12 months. Intervention and control participants perceived healthier stores after intervention. Higher shopping frequency was related to purchases of fruits, vegetables, and healthy items. Conclusions. Intervention exposure was associated with healthy purchasing but not fruit and vegetable intake. Research is needed to further assess impacts of environmental interventions on intake. Public Health Implications. As the first healthy retail intervention in Tribally owned stores, our results contribute evidence for environmental and policy interventions to address obesity in Tribal Nations. Multicomponent interventions, led by Tribal leaders from diverse sectors, are needed to create healthy environments and sustainable improvements in Native American health.

Background: When dietary behaviors are habitual, intentions are low, and environmental cues, such as the consumer food environment, might guide behavior. How might intentions to eat healthily and ultimately actual dietary behaviors, be influenced by the consumer food environment (including the availability and affordability of healthy foods) in convenience stores? This study will determine pathways between the healthfulness of convenience stores and college students' dietary intentions/behaviors, and body mass index (BMI)., Methods: Through multilevel structural equation modeling, a comparison was made of students' healthful meal intentions (HMI); intake (fruits/vegetables, %kcal/fat, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and whole-grains); and measured BMI; as well as the healthfulness of convenience stores (fruits/vegetables availability/quality, healthy food availability/affordability). Data was collected on 1401 students and 41 convenience stores across 13 US college campuses., Results: Controlling for gender, HMI was negatively associated with SSBs ( β = -0.859) and %kcal/fat ( β = -1.057) and positively with whole-grains ( β = 0.186) and fruits/vegetables intake ( β = 0.267); %Kcal/fat was positively ( β = 0.098) and fruits/vegetables intake ( β = -0.055) negatively associated with BMI. Campus level, fruits/vegetables availability were positively associated to HMI ( β = 0.214, β = 0.129) and directly/negatively to BMI ( β = -2.657, β = -1.124)., Conclusions: HMI modifies dietary behaviors, with energy from fat and fruit/vegetable intake the most predictive of weight. Availability of fruit/vegetables in convenience stores make it easier for young adults to eat well.

In rural Native American communities, access to healthy foods is limited and diet-related disparities are significant. Tribally owned and operated convenience stores, small food stores that sell ready-to-eat foods and snacks primarily high in fat and sugar, serve as the primary and, in some areas, the only food stores. The Tribal Health and Resilience in Vulnerable Environments or "THRIVE" study, implemented between 2013 and 2018, is the first healthy retail intervention study implemented in tribally owned and operated convenience stores. THRIVE aims to increase vegetable and fruit intake among Native Americans living within the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. The study comprises three phases: 1) formative research assessing tribal community food environments and associated health outcomes; 2) intervention development to assess convenience stores and tailor healthy retail product, pricing, promotion, and placement strategies; and 3) intervention implementation and evaluation. In this paper we share the participatory research process employed by our tribal-university partnership to develop this healthy retail intervention within the unique contexts of tribal convenience stores. We summarize our methods to engage tribal leaders across diverse health, government, and commerce sectors and adapt and localize intervention strategies that test the ability of tribal nations to increase fruit and vegetable purchasing and consumption among tribal members. Study processes will assist in developing a literature base for policy and environmental strategies that intervene broadly to improve Native community food environments and eliminate diet-related disparities among Native Americans.

Objective: This study compared the prices of unhealthy (chips) and healthy (ready-to-eat fruit) snacks that students are likely to purchase from corner stores., Methods: Snacks were purchased from 325 New Jersey corner stores; chip prices were compared with fruit prices overall and by store sales volume and block group characteristics., Results: Prices did not differ significantly between chips and fruit in the overall sample in which both items were available (n = 104) (chips: $0.46 ± $0.15; fruit: $0.49 ± $0.19; P = .48) or by store or block group characteristics. Neither mean fruit prices nor mean chip prices differed by store sales volume or by neighborhood characteristics., Conclusions and Implications: Promoting ready-to-eat fruits in corner stores to children as a price-neutral alternative to calorically dense snacks can be a viable strategy to improve the nutritional quality of snacks commonly purchased at corner stores., (Copyright © 2016 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: High accessibility of unhealthy food stores may contribute to a poor dietary quality. Research on the link between neighbourhood food environment and consumption is limited, especially in a European context. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between convenience stores (CS) and dietary quality within the Capital Region of Denmark., Method: Cross-sectional study of the geographic food environment in the Capital Region of Denmark based on 47 623 subjects (age 16+ years) with complete information on retail food environment and dietary quality. A categorization procedure to identify CS from a government list of inspected food stores (the Smiley register) was developed. Using GIS network analyses, density of CS within 0.25 km and 0.5 km network buffers from residency was calculated for participants in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas, respectively. Information on dietary intake and confounders is derived from a questionnaire survey. Multi-level analyses were performed, adjusting for age, sex, individual socio-economic factors and area socio-economic status., Results: In the non-metropolitan population, the odds of having an unhealthy diet increased significantly (P < 0.0001) with increased density of CS. Compared to individuals who did not have a CS within 0.5 km from their home, the odds ratios were 1.20 (95% CI: 1.09-1.33) and 1.37 (95% CI: 1.19-1.57) for individuals having 1 or ≥2 CS, respectively. In the fully adjusted model, the overall association remained significant (P = 0.015) and odds ratios diminished to 1.14 (1.02-1.27) and 1.18 (1.01-1.38)., Conclusion: High accessibility of CS in neighbourhoods is associated with less healthy dietary habits among residents., (© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.)

The ability to ascertain the extent of product sale fluctuations for each store and locality is indispensable to inventory management. This study analyzed POS data from 158 convenience stores in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan and found a power scaling law between the mean and standard deviation of product sales quantities for several product categories. For the statistical domains of low sales quantities, the power index was 1/2; for large sales quantities, the power index was 1, so called Taylor's law holds. The value of sales quantities with changing power indixes differed according to product category. We derived a Poissonian compound distribution model taking into account fluctuations in customer numbers to show that the scaling law could be explained theoretically for most of items. We also examined why the scaling law did not hold in some exceptional cases.

Background: Reduction of the availability of tobacco has been proposed as a means of reducing and denormalising tobacco use. Some retailers have stopped selling tobacco. Therefore, we investigated how willing New Zealand convenience store owners were to stop selling tobacco or sell nicotine replacement therapy. Promotion of their stores was offered as an incentive to stop selling tobacco., Methods: We asked convenience store owners in the Auckland metropolitan region of New Zealand to choose one of three actions. The first was to stop selling tobacco for a short period of time; the second was to restrict the hours that they sold tobacco; the third was to display and sell nicotine replacement therapy. All participating retailers completed a short interview about selling tobacco. We also surveyed customers about nicotine replacement and cessation., Results: One-third of eligible retailers agreed to participate. Most who participated (93%) were unwilling to stop or restrict tobacco sales and 2 (7%) had already stopped selling tobacco. Tobacco was perceived as a key product for their businesses. Very few customers who purchased cigarettes noticed nicotine replacement therapy or obtained it from convenience stores., Conclusions: Substantially reducing the availability of tobacco in communities is likely to require legislative approaches, underpinned by sustained community pressure and support for convenience store owners who are willing to change their business model., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/)

Objective: This research examined whether publicly funded drug treatment centers (DTCs) were associated with violent crime in excess of the violence happening around other commercial businesses., Method: Violent crime data and locations of community entities were geocoded and mapped. DTCs and other retail outlets were matched based on a Neighborhood Disadvantage score at the census tract level. Street network buffers ranging from 100 to 1,400 feet were placed around each location. Negative binomial regression models were used to estimate the relationship between the count of violent crimes and the distance from each business type., Results: Compared with the mean count of violent crime around drug treatment centers, the mean count of violent crime (M = 2.87) was significantly higher around liquor stores (M = 3.98; t test; p < .01) and corner stores (M = 3.78; t test; p < .01), and there was no statistically significant difference between the count around convenience stores (M = 2.65; t test; p = .32). In the adjusted negative binomial regression models, there was a negative and significant relationship between the count of violent crime and the distance from drug treatment centers (β = -.069, p < .01), liquor stores (β = -.081, p < .01), corner stores (β = -.116, p < .01), and convenience stores (β = -.154, p < .01)., Conclusions: Violent crime associated with drug treatment centers is similar to that associated with liquor stores and is less frequent than that associated with convenience stores and corner stores.

Purpose: Local food environments can influence the diet and health of individuals through food availability, proximity to retail stores, pricing, and promotion. This study focused on how small convenience stores, known in New York City as bodegas, influence resident shopping behavior and the food environment., Design: Using a cross-sectional design, 171 bodegas and 2118 shoppers were sampled., Setting: Small convenience stores in New York City., Subjects: Any bodega shopper aged 18+ who purchased food or beverage from a participating store., Measures: Data collection consisted of a store assessment, a health and behavior survey given to exiting customers, and a bag check that recorded product information for all customer purchases., Analysis: Descriptive statistics were generated for bodega store characteristics, shopper demographics, and purchase behavior. Multilevel models were used to assess the influence of product availability, placement, and advertising on consumer purchases of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), water, and fruits and vegetables., Results: Seventy-one percent of participants reported shopping at bodegas five or more times per week, and 35% reported purchasing all or most of their monthly food allotment at bodegas. Model results indicated that lower amounts of available fresh produce were significantly and independently associated with a higher likelihood of SSB purchases. A second, stratified multilevel model showed that the likelihood of purchasing an SSB increased with decreasing varieties of produce when produce was located at the front of the store. No significant effects were found for water placement and beverage advertising., Conclusions: Small convenience stores in New York City are an easily accessible source of foods and beverages. Bodegas may be suitable for interventions designed to improve food choice and diet.

Objectives: We examined the association between neighborhood convenience stores and diet outcomes for 20 years of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study., Methods: We used dietary data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study years 1985-1986, 1992-1993, and 2005-2006 (n = 3299; Birmingham, AL; Chicago, IL; Minneapolis, MN; and Oakland, CA) and geographically and temporally matched neighborhood-level food resource and US Census data. We used random effects repeated measures regression to estimate associations between availability of neighborhood convenience stores with diet outcomes and whether these associations differed by individual-level income., Results: In multivariable-adjusted analyses, greater availability of neighborhood convenience stores was associated with lower diet quality (mean score = 66.3; SD = 13.0) for participants with lower individual-level income (b = -2.40; 95% CI = -3.30, -1.51); associations at higher individual-level income were weaker. We observed similar associations with whole grain consumption across time but no statistically significant associations with consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, artificially sweetened beverages, snacks, processed meats, fruits, or vegetables., Conclusions: The presence of neighborhood convenience stores may be associated with lower quality diets. Low-income individuals may be most sensitive to convenience store availability.

The adequacy of the consume-by date was validated for rice balls sold at convenience stores (CVSs),taking into account the process of distribution. The results indicated that the increase in the viable cell counts differed significantly depending on the type of rice balls and the storage temperature. At 19 h after delivery, Staphylococcus spp. were detected in 4 samples (26.7%) of the Tunamayo samples of Company A and in the majority of the Plum samples of Company B. Results showed there was a strong correlation between the elapsed time after delivery and the viable cell counts for all samples except for the Plum samples of Company B. The regression equations varied for the different types of rice balls and the different storage temperatures. Using the obtained regression equations and assuming a safety factor of 0.7, the appropriate consume-by date was determined to be 11 h for the Tunamayo and 38 h for the Plum of Company A, and 21 h for the Tunamayo of Company B. Among 14 strains of isolated Gram-negative bacteria, 11 strains (78.6%) belonged to the genus Serratia.

Aim: To examine the association between alcohol in school environments and adolescent alcohol use over the previous 6 months., Design: A multi-level logistic regression analysis was performed of cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2004, 2005 and 2006., Participants and Setting: A total of 52 214 students aged 11-19 years from 387 middle or high schools were selected from a nationally representative, multi-stage, stratified probability sampling across Taiwan., Measurements: Information on socio-demographic features and substance use experiences was collected using self-administered questionnaires. The alcohol in the environment was measured using the availability of convenience stores surrounding the schools. Using geographical information systems, the weighted numbers of convenience stores within 1 km, a 12-15-minute walk, of a school were calculated. The schools were later categorized into three subgroups via the tertile of nearby convenience stores., Findings: Considering the compositional characteristics, the availability of convenience stores was found to account for 1.5% of the school-level variance of youthful drinking. The odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of alcohol use over the previous 6 months among youth attending schools with medium and high availability were 1.04 (0.96-1.13) and 1.08 (1.00-1.17), respectively, with a P-value of 0.04 in the trend test., Conclusion: The greater availability of convenience stores near a school is associated with an increased risk of alcohol use among adolescents over the previous 6 months., (© 2013 Society for the Study of Addiction.)

Objectives: To investigate whether increasing state cigarette taxes and/or enacting stronger smoke-free air (SFA) policies have negative impact on convenience store density in a state, a proxy that is determined by store openings and closings, which reflects store profits., Methods: State-level business count estimates for convenience stores for 50 states and District of Columbia from 1997 to 2009 were analysed using two-way fixed effects regression techniques that control for state-specific and year-specific determinants of convenience store density. The impact of tax and SFA policies was examined using a quasi-experimental research design that exploits changes in cigarette taxes and SFA policies within a state over time., Results: Taxes are found to be uncorrelated with the density of combined convenience stores and gas stations in a state. Taxes are positively correlated with the density of convenience stores; however, the magnitude of this correlation is small, with a 10% increase in state cigarette taxes associated with a 0.19% (p<0.05) increase in the number of convenience stores per million people in a state. State-level SFA policies do not correlate with convenience store density in a state, regardless whether gas stations were included. These results are robust across different model specifications. In addition, they are robust with regard to the inclusion/exclusion of other state-level tobacco control measures and gasoline prices., Conclusions: Contrary to tobacco industry and related organisations' claims, higher cigarette taxes and stronger SFA policies do not negatively affect convenience stores.

Background: Few studies have focused on the relationship between the retail food environment and household food supplies. This study examines spatial access to retail food stores, food shopping habits, and nutrients available in household food supplies among 50 Mexican-origin families residing in Texas border colonias., Methods: The design was cross-sectional; data were collected in the home March to June 2010 by promotora-researchers. Ground-truthed methods enumerated traditional (supercenters, supermarkets, grocery stores), convenience (convenience stores and food marts), and non-traditional (dollar stores, discount stores) retail food stores. Spatial access was computed using the network distance from each participant's residence to each food store. Data included survey data and two household food inventories (HFI) of the presence and amount of food items in the home. The Spanish language interviewer-administered survey included demographics, transportation access, food purchasing, food and nutrition assistance program participation, and the 18-item Core Food Security Module. Nutrition Data Systems for Research (NDS-R) was used to calculate HFI nutrients. Adult equivalent adjustment constants (AE), based on age and gender calorie needs, were calculated based on the age- and gender composition of each household and used to adjust HFI nutrients for household composition. Data were analyzed using bivariate analysis and linear regression models to determine the association of independent variables with the availability of each AE-adjusted nutrient., Results: Regression models showed that households in which the child independently purchased food from a convenience store at least once a week had foods and beverages with increased amounts of total energy, total fat, and saturated fat. A greater distance to the nearest convenience store was associated with reduced amounts of total energy, vitamin D, total sugar, added sugar, total fat, and saturated fat. Participation in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) was associated with lower household levels of total energy, calcium, vitamin C, sodium, vitamin D, and saturated fat. Spatial access and utilization of supermarkets and dollar stores were not associated with nutrient availability., Conclusions: Although household members frequently purchased food items from supermarkets or dollar stores, it was spatial access to and frequent utilization of convenience food stores that influenced the amount of nutrients present in Texas border colonia households. These findings also suggest that households which participate in NSLP have reduced AE-adjusted nutrients available in the home. The next step will target changes within convenience stores to improve in-store marketing of foods and beverages to children and adults.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends healthful food choices; however, some geographic areas are limited in the types of foods they offer. Little is known about the role of convenience stores as viable channels to provide healthier foods in our "grab and go" society. The purposes of this study were to (1) identify foods offered within convenience stores located in two Bexar County, Texas, ZIP Codes and (2) compare the availability and cost of ADA-recommended foods including beverages, produce, grains, and oils/fats. Data were analyzed from 28 convenience store audits performed in two sociodemographically diverse ZIP Codes in Bexar County, Texas. Chi-squared tests were used to compare food availability, and t-tests were used to compare food cost in convenience stores between ZIP Codes. A significantly larger proportion of convenience stores in more affluent areas offered bananas (χ (2) = 4.17, P = 0.003), whole grain bread (χ (2) = 8.33, P = 0.004), and baked potato chips (χ (2) = 13.68, P < 0.001). On average, the price of diet cola (t = -2.12, P = 0.044) and certain produce items (e.g., bananas, oranges, tomatoes, broccoli, and cucumber) was significantly higher within convenience stores in more affluent areas. Convenience stores can play an important role to positively shape a community's food environment by stocking healthier foods at affordable prices.

Objective: To examine the relationship between the neighbourhood food environment and dietary intake among adolescents., Design: Cross-sectional design using: (i) a geographic information system to assess characteristics of the neighbourhood food environment and neighbourhood socio-economic status; (ii) the modified Healthy Eating Index (HEI) to assess participants' overall diet quality; and (iii) generalized linear models to examine associations between HEI and home and school food environmental correlates., Setting: Mid-sized Canadian city in Ontario, Canada. Participants Grade 7 and 8 students (n 810) at twenty-one elementary schools., Results: Students living in neighbourhoods with a lower diversity of land-use types, compared with their higher diversity counterparts, had higher HEI scores (P < 0.05). Students with more than 1 km between their home and the nearest convenience store had higher HEI scores than those living within 1 km (P < 0.01). Students attending schools with a distance further than 1 km from the nearest convenience store (P < 0.01) and fast-food outlet (P < 0.05) had higher HEI scores than those within 1 km. Those attending schools with three or more fast-food outlets within 1 km had lower HEI scores than those attending schools with no fast-food outlet in the school surroundings (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: Close proximity to convenience stores in adolescents' home environments is associated with low HEI scores. Within adolescents' school environments, close proximity to convenience and fast-food outlets and a high density of fast-food outlets are associated with low HEI scores.

Background: Product assortment (presence and variety) is a key in-store marketing strategy to influence consumer choice. Quantifying the product assortment of healthier and less-healthy foods and beverages in convenience stores can inform changes in the food environment., Purpose: To document product assortment (i.e., presence and variety of specific foods and beverages) in convenience stores., Methods: Observational survey data were collected onsite in 2011 by trained promotora-researchers in 192 convenience stores. Frequencies of presence and distributions of variety were calculated in 2012. Paired differences were examined using the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test., Results: Convenience stores displayed a large product assortment of sugar-sweetened beverages (median 86.5 unique varieties); candy (76 varieties); salty snacks (77 varieties); fried chips (44 varieties); cookies and pastries (19 varieties); and frozen sweets (21 varieties). This compared with 17 varieties of non-sugar sweetened beverages and three varieties of baked chips. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test confirmed a (p<0.001) greater variety of sugar-sweetened than non-sugar-sweetened beverages, and of fried chips compared with baked chips. Basic food items provided by convenience stores included milk (84% of stores); fresh fruit (33%); fresh vegetables (35%); canned vegetables (78%); white bread (71%); and deli-style packaged meat (57%). Healthier versions of milk, canned fruit, canned tuna, bread, and deli-style packaged meat were displayed in 17%-71% of convenience stores., Conclusions: Convenience stores in this area provide a greater assortment of less-healthy compared with healthier foods and beverages. There are opportunities to influence consumer food choice through programs that alter the balance between healthier and less-healthy foods and beverages in existing convenience stores that serve rural and underserved neighborhoods and communities., (Copyright © 2012 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)