Development of the Menu Assessment Scoring Tool (MAST) to Assess the Nutritional Quality of Food Service Menus

Claire Elizabeth Pulker (), Leisha Michelle Aberle, Lucy Meredith Butcher, Clare Whitton, Kristy Karying Law, Amy Louise Large, Christina Mary Pollard and Georgina S. A. Trapp
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Claire Elizabeth Pulker: East Metropolitan Health Service, Kirkman House, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
Leisha Michelle Aberle: East Metropolitan Health Service, Kirkman House, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
Lucy Meredith Butcher: East Metropolitan Health Service, Kirkman House, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
Clare Whitton: East Metropolitan Health Service, Kirkman House, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
Kristy Karying Law: East Metropolitan Health Service, Kirkman House, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
Amy Louise Large: East Metropolitan Health Service, Kirkman House, Perth, WA 6000, Australia
Christina Mary Pollard: School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
Georgina S. A. Trapp: Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 5, 1-14

Abstract: Preventing the rise in obesity is a global public health priority. Neighbourhood environments can help or undermine people’s efforts to manage their weight, depending on availability of nutritious and nutrient-poor ‘discretionary’ foods. The proportion of household food budgets spent on eating outside the home is increasing. To inform nutrition policy at a local level, an objective assessment of the nutritional quality of foods and beverages on food service menus that is context-specific is needed. This study describes the development and piloting of the Menu Assessment Scoring Tool (MAST), used to assess the nutritional quality of food service menus in Australia. The MAST is a desk-based tool designed to objectively assess availability of nutrient-poor and absence of nutritious food and beverages on food service menus. A risk assessment approach was applied, using the best available evidence in an iterative way. MAST scores for 30 food service outlets in one Local Government Authority in Perth, Western Australia highlight opportunities for improvements. MAST is the first tool of its kind in Australia to assess the nutritional quality of food service menus. It was practical and feasible to use by public health nutritionists/dietitians and can be adapted to suit other settings or countries.

Keywords: obesity; food environment; food service; menu; policy; healthy eating; public health nutrition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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