An Analysis of Foods Promoted in Bronx Supermarket Circulars Based on the Degree of Processing

Abstract

ABSTRACT Supermarket circulars contribute to the consumer’s food environment by promoting sales of specific foods. We used NOVA classification to classify products advertised on the first page of Bronx-based circulars for 12 weeks. In this classification, foods are assigned to one of the four groups, depending on the degree of processing. Of the 2,913 products, minimally processed NOVA1 foods were represented almost equally (43.4%, n = 1263) as NOVA4 ultra-processed foods (41.3%, n = 1203), with comparable circular space for both groups (T = 5.76, p > .05). Our results indicate that supermarkets in nutritionally compromised neighborhoods promote minimally processed, NOVA1 foods and such promotions must be leveraged to improve health outcomes in these communities.