Development and Validation of the Vending Evaluation for Nutrient-Density (VEND)ing Audit.

Authors

Tanya M Horacek, Syracuse UniversityFollow
Elif Dede Yildirim, Auburn UniversityFollow
Melissa Matthews Schreiber, Syracuse UniversityFollow
Carol Byrd-Bredbenner, Rutgers University - New Brunswick/PiscatawayFollow
Sarah E. Colby, University of Tennessee, KnoxvilleFollow
Adrienne A White, University of MaineFollow
Karla P. Shelnutt, University of FloridaFollow
Melissa D. Olfert, West Virginia UniversityFollow
Anne E Mathews, University of FloridaFollow
Kristin Riggsbee, University of Tennessee, KnoxvilleFollow
Lisa Franzen-Castle, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Jesse Morrell, University of New Hampshire, DurhamFollow
Kendra Kattelmann, South Dakota State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-12-2019

Keywords

beverages; food environment; nutrient-density score; snacks; vending machines

Abstract

Background: This paper describes the development and validation of the Vending Evaluation for Nutrient-Density (VEND)ingaudit to comprehensively evaluate vended products based upon healthfulness, price and promotion, and machine accessibility. Methods: A novel vending nutrient-density score was created to determine the healthfulness of vended snack/beverage products. Field tested in United States colleges, VENDing audit (∑nutrient-density + 10 × % healthy products) and Support sub-scores (price + promotion + accessibility) were calculated for snack/beverage machines. Higher scores indicate more healthful vending options and supports for choosing healthfully. Nutrition Environment Measures Survey-Vending (NEMS-V) was used to validate the nutrient-density score for a sub-sample of machines. Sensitivity and specificity were computed by comparing the number of healthy snacks/beverages determined by NEMS-V and the VENDing nutrient-density scores. Results:Researchers conducted the VENDing audit on 228 snack/beverage vending machines at 9 universities within the United States and used both VENDing and NEMS-V on 33 snack and 52 beverage vending machines. Mean VENDing audit scores were 4.5 ± 2.0 (2.6, 3.4) and 2.6 ± 2.0 (0, 12) for snack/beverage machines, respectively. The number of products considered healthy assessed with both the VENDing nutrient-density scores and the NEMS-V were positively correlated for beverages (r = 0.687, p < 0.001) and snacks (r = 0.366, p < 0.05). The sensitivity was excellent for beverages (0.83) and moderate for snacks (0.69); while the specificity was moderate for both beverages (0.66) and snacks (0.50). Conclusions: The VENDing audit uses unique, valid, and reliable nutrient-density scoring to evaluate snacks/beverages along a continuum of healthful criteria and comprehensively evaluates the full vending environment.

Publication Title

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Volume

16

Issue

3

First Page

E514

DOI of Published Version

10.3390/ijerph16030514

Publisher

MDPI

Rights

© 2019 The Authors

Recommended Citation

Horacek, T.M.; Yildirim, E.D.; Matthews Schreiber, M.; Byrd-Bredbenner, C.; Colby, S.; White, A.A.; Shelnutt, K.P.; Olfert, M.D.; Mathews, A.E.; Riggsbee, K.; Franzen-Castle, L.; Morrell, J.S.; Kattelmann, K. Development and Validation of the Vending Evaluation for Nutrient-Density (VEND)ing Audit. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 514.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.