Packaging Health: Examining 'Better-for-You' Foods Targeted at Children.

Concerns over health and obesity have led to a range of 'better-for-you' food products targeted at consumers. This analysis examines 354 supermarket foods targeted at children in Canada, assessing the nutritional quality and types of appeals of 'better-for-you' packaged foods compared to 'regular' fare. While 'better-for-you' products fared better nutritionally (particularly for fat or sodium), high levels of sugar are evident in both categories. This analysis further examines some important considerations regarding both 'health halos' and the promotion of food as 'fun.' Overall, it reveals that products marketed to children as 'better-for-you' are as much about marketing as they are about nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]