Store and neighborhood differences in retailer compliance with a local staple foods ordinance.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Caspi CE
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7001202 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Store and neighborhood differences in retailer compliance with a local staple foods ordinance.
Caspi Caitlin E CE Winkler Megan R MR Lenk Kathleen M KM Harnack Lisa J LJ Erickson Darin J DJ Laska Melissa N MN
BMC public health 20200204 1
<h4>Background</h4>Policies to improve healthy food retail have been recognized as a potential means of reducing diet-related health disparities. The revised 2014 Minneapolis Staple Foods Ordinance instituted minimum stocking standards for healthy, staple foods. The objective of this study was to examine retailer compliance with the policy, and whether compliance varied by neighborhood and store characteristics.<h4>Methods</h4>In this natural experiment, audits were conducted annually pre- and p ...[more]
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Project description:INTRODUCTION:This study aimed to assess the availability of retailer storefronts that continued to sell electronic nicotine/non-nicotine delivery systems (ENDS/ENNDS) in India, and characterise such retailers following the promulgation of 2019 Indian Ordinance and Act (Ordinance/Act) that prohibit ENDS/ENNDS nationwide. METHODS:Discreet observations were conducted of retailer storefronts across different socioeconomic zones in nine major cities of India (Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Delhi, Indore, Kolkata, Ludhiana, Raipur, and Ranchi) from 28 November 2019 to 22 January 2020 to identify the availability of ENDS/ENNDS (i.e. electronic cigarettes, e-cigarette liquid, e-cigarette accessories, heated tobacco products (HTPs), and HTPs accessories). We report the number and proportion (%) of retailers that sold ENDS/ENNDS. Other characteristics of the retailers are also described, including indirect evaluation of the retailer's awareness of the Ordinance/Act. RESULTS:Of the 199 retailer storefronts visited, 37 (18.6%) sold ENDS/ENNDS and, therefore, did not comply with the Ordinance/Act. The highest availability of non-compliant retailers was in Kolkata (n=26; 83.9%). The majority of the non-compliant retailers were tobacco retailers (n=35; 94.6%), sold e-cigarettes (n=22; 59.5%), and e-cigarette accessories (n=24; 64.9%). Although many of the non-compliant retailers displayed their ENDS/ENNDS products (n=33; 89.2%) and did not feature health warnings related to ENDS/ENNDS (n=32; 86.5%) in the stores, nearly 90% (n=33) were aware of the Ordinance/Act. CONCLUSIONS:Despite a nationwide ban, ENDS/ENNDS are still available in major cities in India, and concentrated in a particular city. Indian authorities should focus on law enforcement to ensure that the prohibition is effectively implemented.
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