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This article discusses the use of outer packaging by the tobacco industry in Mexico to increase marketing space for their products. The tobacco companies utilize inserts, onserts, and outer packaging to advertise and promote their cigarettes, potentially obscuring the required graphic health warning labels. The study conducted in Mexico found that a significant number of unique cigarette packs purchased contained outer packaging with various marketing appeals, including limited-edition descriptors, Mexican national appeal imagery, and indications that the packaging could be used as an ashtray. The article emphasizes the importance of plain and standardized packaging to protect consumers from appealing marketing and misleading claims. [Extracted from the article]

Emotional reactions to anti-smoking advertising (e.g., fear, sadness, anger) may play an important role in promoting smoking-related attitudinal and behavioral change. Overall, 278 youth completed response ratings of 16 different elements of 50 anti-smoking ads made by tobacco-control agencies, tobacco companies, and pharmaceutical companies. Compared with tobacco-control ads, tobacco-company ads were more likely to elicit positive emotions and less likely to elicit negative emotions and to be of interest to youth. Compared with tobacco-control ads, pharmaceutical company ads were less likely to elicit negative emotional responses or cognitively engage youth and more likely to elicit positive emotions. These findings suggest that youth may be unlikely to respond to tobacco-company advertising in ways that may lead to a lower likelihood of smoking.

Objectives: The tobacco industry can attract consumers using appealing packaging, including pack structure. We assessed the variety of pack structure elements across select low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: Between 2013 and 2017, we systematically collected 3542 packs from 14 LMICs. The selected countries represented LMICs with the greatest number of smokers. We assessed packs for 4 packaging structure elements: pack-type (hard, soft, or box), pack-shape, pack-edge, and opening-style. We used descriptive statistics to analyze the packaging structure elements by country and tobacco company. Results: All 14 countries assessed had predominantly hard packs (88.3% of the total sample). We identified 5 pack-shape variants; the most common pack-shape in all countries was the rectangular non-slim pack-shape (79.2%). Straight right-angled edge packs were the most common in 11 of the 14 countries assessed, but rounded edge packs were the most common in Turkey (58.5%). We found 9 broad categories of pack-opening styles, with the most common being the flip-top (94.5%). Conclusion: Although we found common packaging structure elements across the 14 LMICs, we also noted diverse packaging structures. Restrictions on pack structure elements are important as these elements can contribute to the attractiveness of tobacco products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Quick Response codes, or "QR" codes, are used widely in China-for mobile payment, marketing, public transportation, and various other applications. In this study, we examined the content of websites linked from QR codes on cigarette packs collected in China.Aims and Methods: In February 2017, 738 unique cigarette packs were collected from five Chinese cities (Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Kunming, and Chengdu) using a systematic protocol. Cigarette packs were coded for presence of QR codes on packaging. Packs containing QR codes were then scanned using the WeChat app. Websites sourced from QR codes were coded for required verification, website type, age- and health-related statements, engagement strategies, and marketing appeals.Results: From the sample of 738 unique packs, 109 packs (14.8%) had a QR code on the packaging. The QR codes were linked to 24 unique websites of which 23 could be analyzed. All 23 unique websites were either brand-specific or social media websites; none focused on health or quit information. Of the 23 websites, only three (13.0%) websites had age-restricted site access and just six (26.1%) had any mention of health-related risks associated with product usage. Engagement strategies and/or marketing appeals were found on 20 (87.0%) websites.Conclusions: The Chinese tobacco industry uses QR codes on cigarette packaging to link to web-based marketing content including social media recruitment, contests and giveaways, and product advertisement. It is important to understand where packs send consumers online and what messages they receive, and to consider QR codes on packaging when drafting policy.Implications: Scanning QR codes in China is a commonplace activity. The authors are aware of no published studies on the role QR codes play on the marketing of cigarette packs, in China or elsewhere. This study demonstrates QR codes on cigarette packs can expose users and nonusers to cigarette marketing on interactive websites and protobacco social media pages, mostly without restrictive access or health warnings. This is an area that health authorities can consider regulating, given that this is a channel through which the tobacco industry can communicate with current and potential consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Despite the importance of cooking in modern life, public perceptions about what it means to cook are unknown. We aimed to examine perceptions of cooking and their association with cooking confidence, attitudes and behaviours in the USA. Design: We designed and fielded a nationally representative survey among US adults (n 1112) in April 2015. We used factor analysis to identify perceptions about cooking and multivariate ordered logit and Poisson models to explore associations between those perceptions and cooking confidence, attitudes and behaviours. Setting: Nationally representative web-based survey of US adults. Subjects: US adults aged ≥18 years. Results: Americans conceptualized cooking in three ways: the use of scratch ingredients, convenience foods and not using heat. Respondents who perceived cooking as including convenience foods were less confident in their ability to cook from scratch (OR=0·52, P <0·001) and less likely to enjoy cooking (OR=0·68, P=0·01) than those who did not. Although individuals who perceived cooking as including only scratch ingredients reported cooking dinner (4·31 times/ week) and using packaged/boxed products (0·95 times/week) the least frequently, few notable differences in the frequency of cooking meals were observed. Conclusions: Cooking frequency is similar among US adults regardless of how they perceive cooking, but cooking confidence and enjoyment are lowest among Americans who perceive cooking as including the use of convenience foods. These insights should inform the development of more specific measures of cooking behaviour as well as meaningful and targeted public health messages to encourage healthier cooking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]