Child-oriented marketing techniques in snack food packages in Guatemala

The study assesses availability of child-oriented snack foods in school kiosks and convenience stores near public schools in Guatemala, and identifies marketing techniques used in packaging. Evidence-based policies restricting the use of promotional characters in unhealthy snack food packages need to be explored as a strategy for control of obesity. Child-oriented marketing was identified as packaging that had promotional characters, premium offers, children′s television/movie tie-ins, sports references, or included the word “child.” 55 stores and street-vendors were assessed. This study is the first to document unhealthy snack foods’ advertising strategies targeted to children in a low income country (LMIC).