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Aims: Food insecurity is a lack of assured access to sufficient nutritious food. We aimed to investigate the demographic and socio-economic determinants of food insecurity in New Zealand and whether these determinants vary between males and females. Methods: We used data from the longitudinal Survey of Families, Income and Employment (SoFIE) (n=18,950). Respondents were classified as food insecure if, in the past 12 months, they had to use special food grants or food banks, been forced to buy cheaper food to pay for other things, or had to go without fresh fruit and vegetables often. Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the association of demographic and socioeconomic factors on food insecurity. Models were repeated stratifying by males and females. Results: More than 15% of the SoFIE population in NZ were food insecure in 2004/05. The prevalence of food insecurity was much greater in females (19%) than males (12%). The adjusted odds of food insecurity was significantly higher in females compared to males (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.51.8). In univariate analyses, food insecurity was associated with sole parenthood, unmarried status, younger age groups, Maori and Pacific ethnicity, worse self-rated health status, renting, being unemployed and lower socioeconomic status. Income was the strongest predictor of food insecurity in multivariate modelling (OR 4.9, 95% CI 4.0-5.9 for lowest household income quintile versus highest). The associations of demographic and socioeconomic factors with food insecurity were similar in males and females. Conclusions: Food insecurity is a timely and relevant issue, as it affects a significant number of New Zealanders. Targeted policy interventions aimed at increasing money available in households are needed. Key words: Food security; determinants; gender; socioeconomic status doi: 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2010.00615.x

Objective: To determine how various population groups in New Zealand interpret the nutrition content claims '97% fat free' and 'no added sugar' on food labels. Methods: A survey of adult supermarket shoppers was conducted at 25 Auckland supermarkets over a six-week period in 2007. Supermarkets were located in areas where greater than 10% of the resident population were known to be Maori, Pacific or Asian, based on 2001 Census meshblock data. Four questions in the survey assessed understanding and interpretation of the nutrition content claims '97% fat free' and 'no added sugar'. Results: There were 1,525 people who completed the survey, with approximately equal representation from Maori, Pacific, Asian and New Zealand European and Other ethnicities. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of participants correctly estimated the fat content of a 100 g product that was '97% fat free', and understood that a product with 'no added sugars' could contain natural sugar. However, up to three-quarters of Maori, Pacific, and Asian shoppers assumed that if a food carried a '97% fat free' or 'no added sugar' claim it was therefore a healthy food. Similarly, low-income shoppers were significantly more likely than medium- or high-income shoppers to assume that the presence of a claim meant a food was definitely healthy. Conclusion: Percentage fat free and no added sugar nutrition content claims on food are frequently misinterpreted by shoppers as meaning the food is healthy overall and appear to be particularly misleading for Maori, Pacific, Asian and low-income groups. Implications: Nutrition content claims have potential for harm if the food they are placed on is not healthy overall. Such claims should therefore only be permitted to be placed on healthy foods. Key words: food labelling, indigenous population, low-income population, New Zealand, food legislation. Aust NZ J Public Health. 2010; 34:57-62 doi: 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2010.00474.x

Food security is a fundamental human right yet many people are food insecure, even in high-income countries. Reviewed here is the evidence for the physical, economic, sociocultural, and political environmental influences on household food security in high-income countries. The literature was evaluated using the ANGELO framework, which is a lens developed for understanding the environmental factors underpinning the obesity pandemic. A review of the literature identified 78 articles, which mostly reported on cross-sectional or qualitative studies. These studies identified a wide range of factors associated with food security. Foremost among them was household financial resources, but many other factors were identified and the complexity of the issue was highlighted. Few studies were prospective and even fewer tested the use of interventions other than the supplemental nutrition assistance program to address food security. This indicates a solution-oriented research paradigm is required to identify effective interventions and policies to enhance food security. In addition, comprehensive top-down and bottom-up interventions at the community and national levels are urgently needed. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2009.00258.x

Objective: To determine how well consumers use and understand nutrition labels and claims in New Zealand and Australia. Method: A review was undertaken of the literature on nutrition labelling in New Zealand and Australia published up to the end of July 2005. Major electronic databases were searched for appropriate literature and research, as were the bibliographies of relevant publications and pertinent websites. Studies that focused on health claims were excluded. Results: Sixteen papers were suitable for inclusion in the review. All but one study evaluated self-reported use and understanding of nutrition labels. The single study that evaluated actual (observed) use of labels while shopping found frequency to be much lower than would be expected based on self-reported data. While self-reported understanding of nutrition labels was common, actual (evaluated) understanding appeared moderate at best. Conclusions: Self-reported use of nutrition labels and claims is common in New Zealand and Australia, but actual use and understanding appears limited. Nutrition labels present an opportunity to improve consumer food choice at point of purchase, but their potential value is limited by apparent lack of consumer understanding. Implications: Nutrition labels are an important part of a supportive environment that empowers people to make healthy food choices. Improving their ease of use and understanding has the potential to promote healthier food choices. Key words: Nutrition labelling, food legislation, consumer behaviour, diet, Australasia.

Abstract Background Approximately 55,000 children in New Zealand do not eat breakfast on any given day. Regular breakfast skipping has been associated with poor diets, higher body mass index, and adverse effects on children's behaviour and academic performance. Research suggests that regular breakfast consumption can improve academic performance, nutrition and behaviour. This paper describes the protocol for a stepped wedge cluster randomised trial of a free school breakfast programme. The aim of the trial is to determine the effects of the breakfast intervention on school attendance, achievement, psychosocial function, dietary habits and food security. Methods/Design Sixteen primary schools in the North Island of New Zealand will be randomised in a sequential stepped wedge design to a free before-school breakfast programme consisting of non-sugar coated breakfast cereal, milk products, and/or toast and spreads. Four hundred children aged 5-13 years (approximately 25 per school) will be recruited. Data collection will be undertaken once each school term over the 2010 school year (February to December). The primary trial outcome is school attendance, defined as the proportion of students achieving an attendance rate of 95% or higher. Secondary outcomes are academic achievement (literacy, numeracy, self-reported grades), sense of belonging at school, psychosocial function, dietary habits, and food security. A concurrent process evaluation seeks information on parents', schools' and providers' perspectives of the breakfast programme. Discussion This randomised controlled trial will provide robust evidence of the effects of a school breakfast programme on students' attendance, achievement and nutrition. Furthermore the study provides an excellent example of the feasibility and value of the stepped wedge trial design in evaluating pragmatic public health intervention programmes. Trial Registration Number Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) - ACTRN12609000854235

The article discusses the methods and findings reported in a previous issue related to changes in the sodium content of New Zealand's processed foods between 2003 to 2013. The article is a response to a letter by Katherine Rich, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Food and Grocery Council. The contents of the article include topics on consumption of Sodium, comparison of products of the years 2003 and 2013, and steps taken by the country's food manufacturers to reduce Sodium content.

Background: Approximately 55,000 children in New Zealand do not eat breakfast on any given day. Regular breakfast skipping has been associated with poor diets, higher body mass index, and adverse effects on children's behaviour and academic performance. Research suggests that regular breakfast consumption can improve academic performance, nutrition and behaviour. This paper describes the protocol for a stepped wedge cluster randomised trial of a free school breakfast programme. The aim of the trial is to determine the effects of the breakfast intervention on school attendance, achievement, psychosocial function, dietary habits and food security. Methods/Design: Sixteen primary schools in the North Island of New Zealand will be randomised in a sequential stepped wedge design to a free before-school breakfast programme consisting of non-sugar coated breakfast cereal, milk products, and/or toast and spreads. Four hundred children aged 5-13 years (approximately 25 per school) will be recruited. Data collection will be undertaken once each school term over the 2010 school year (February to December). The primary trial outcome is school attendance, defined as the proportion of students achieving an attendance rate of 95% or higher. Secondary outcomes are academic achievement (literacy, numeracy, self-reported grades), sense of belonging at school, psychosocial function, dietary habits, and food security. A concurrent process evaluation seeks information on parents', schools' and providers' perspectives of the breakfast programme. Discussion: This randomised controlled trial will provide robust evidence of the effects of a school breakfast programme on students' attendance, achievement and nutrition. Furthermore the study provides an excellent example of the feasibility and value of the stepped wedge trial design in evaluating pragmatic public health intervention programmes. Trial Registration Number: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) - ACTRN12609000854235 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]