Purpose

Vending machines (VMs) provide quick access for snack foods and beverages for students during their study days. These vended foods have been reported to affect the student's nutritional status and contributing to obesity by increasing the caloric intake. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional value of snacks and beverages provided by VM at the university campuses.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional observational study in one large urban university with four campuses was conducted. In total, 55 VMs were found distributed over 50 buildings of the four university campuses. Of the vending slots surveyed, only 57 snacks and beverage food items were found repeated. These items were vended and analyzed using nutrient databases, and their nutritional quality was assessed using nutrient adequacy ratio and nutritional quality score.

Findings

Most vended snacks were salty (77%) and sweet (23%). Neither snacks nor beverages were nutrient-dense, and the majority (65%) of snacks and beverages were calorie-dense, with high contents of sugar, sodium and saturated fat; while they were low in vitamins C and A, calcium, iron, sodium, protein and dietary fibers. None of the vended beverages met the low calorie, low sugars and high-fiber criteria.

Research limitations/implications

One limitation of the current work is represented in the fact that VM snacks and beverages are not fixed throughout the year days, and exposed to continuous changes, depending on the customers' attitudes and economic and financial considerations related to the operating contractor company and the customer students. Thus, a continuous, long-term evaluation is suggested to be conducted for a more representative and reflective evaluation of the nutritional quality of vended snacks and beverages.

Practical implications

Poor nutritional quality has been found for vended foods. Healthier food options should be provided to improve students' dietary intake.

Social implications

Attention has to be directed toward the nutritional quality of VM foods, and how to provide adolescents and young adults with healthy options.

Originality/value

This is the first study conducted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC) assessing the nutritional value of vending machine foods in university settings.

中文翻译：

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在大学自动售货机中出售的小吃和饮料的营养质量评估：定性评估

目的

自动售货机（VM）可为学生在学习期间提供零食和饮料的快速通道。据报道，这些自动售货食品会影响学生的营养状况，并通过增加热量摄入而导致肥胖。这项研究旨在评估VM在大学校园中提供的零食和饮料的营养价值。

设计/方法/方法

在一所有四个校园的大型城市大学中进行了横断面观察研究。总共发现了55个虚拟机，分布在四个大学校园的50座建筑物中。在接受调查的自动售货机中，仅发现57个零食和饮料食品重复出现。使用营养数据库对这些食品进行出售和分析，并使用营养充足率和营养质量评分评估其营养质量。

发现

大多数售卖的零食都是咸的（77％）和甜的（23％）。零食和饮料都不是营养密集的，大部分（65％）的零食和饮料都是卡路里密集的，其中糖，钠和饱和脂肪的含量很高。而它们的维生素C和A，钙，铁，钠，蛋白质和膳食纤维含量低。售卖的饮料均未达到低热量，低糖和高纤维标准。

研究局限/意义

当前工作的一个局限性在于，VM零食和饮料并非全年固定，并且会根据客户的态度以及与运营承包商公司和客户有关的经济和财务方面的考虑而不断变化学生。因此，建议进行连续，长期的评估，以对售卖的小吃和饮料的营养质量进行更具代表性和反思性的评估。

实际影响

已发现自动售货食品的营养质量差。应提供更健康的食物选择，以提高学生的饮食摄入量。

社会影响

必须关注VM食品的营养质量，以及如何为青少年和年轻人提供健康的选择。

创意/价值

这是在阿拉伯联合酋长国（UAE）和海湾合作委员会国家（GCC）中进行的第一项研究，旨在评估大学环境中自动售货机食品的营养价值。