Next time you’re stuck waiting in line at the grocery store, take a look around. Chances are, you’ll be surrounded by candy bars, soda, and salty chips. That’s no accident.
A new study from UC Davis found that about 70% of the food and drinks sold at checkout lanes are unhealthy. When it comes to small, snack-sized items, the number jumps to 89%.
Junk Food Takes Center Stage
Researchers looked at checkout lanes in 102 stores across four California cities: Davis, Sacramento, Oakland, and Berkeley. They found the top items near the register were:
- Candy (31%)
- Sugary drinks (11%)
- Salty snacks (9%)
- Sweets like cookies and pastries (6%)
Healthier options were much harder to find:
- Water made up just 3%
- Nuts and seeds: 2%
- Fruits and vegetables: 1%
- Legumes and milk? Almost nonexistent
Why It’s Like This
The checkout lane isn’t just where you pay — it’s a hotspot for impulse buying, and food companies know it. In fact, they often pay stores to feature their products in this prime location, said Jennifer Falbe, a UC Davis professor and lead author of the study.
“The checkout is the one place every shopper goes through. It’s powerful real estate for brands,” she explained.
Berkeley Tries Something New
This study was done in early 2021, just before Berkeley became the first U.S. city to pass a "healthy checkout" law. This local rule says large food stores must offer healthier choices at checkout and limits how much added sugar and sodium products can have.
Shoppers can still get candy, but it’s no longer right in their face at the register. Instead, more nutritious items like unsweetened drinks, fruit, nuts, and dairy are promoted.
Falbe said this policy lines up with federal nutrition guidelines, which urge people to eat more whole foods and cut down on sugar and salt.
Not All Stores Are Equal
The study also found that chain supermarkets and specialty stores were more likely to meet Berkeley’s healthy checkout standards. But independent groceries and dollar stores, which are often located in low-income neighborhoods, had the least healthy checkout setups.
This matters because the checkout lane can really influence what people buy—especially when they’re tired, hungry, or shopping with kids.
A Chance to Do Better
Falbe and her fellow researchers hope their findings inspire more cities — and more stores — to follow Berkeley’s lead.
“There’s a real opportunity here,” she said. “Right now, most customers don’t have much choice at checkout. But stores can change that by offering better options.”
Giving people healthier choices in every neighborhood could be a small but meaningful step toward better public health.
Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2475299123212482?via…
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