Fast-food chain handed worst health score
PORT DOUGLAS
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DOMINO'S Pizza - Port Douglas’ sole franchised fast-food outlet - has emerged at the bottom of the pack scoring a dismal 3/100 in a study titled ‘Inside our Quick Service Restaurants’, undertaken by Deakin University’s Global Obesity Centre.
Based on six factors, focusing on their policies and commitments related to obesity prevention and nutrition; and assessed on a score out of 100, Domino’s was well behind other restaurants included in the study. Subway was top of the list with 48/100, followed by McDonald’s 42, KFC 41, Nando’s 31, Hungry Jack’s 28 and Pizza Hut 27. The median score was 27/100.
A spokeswoman for Domino’s Port Douglas franchise said she was unaware of the Deakin University study adding that “she had been advised not to provide any kind of comment”.
The assessment was based on six factors:
- Corporate strategy towards obesity prevention
- Setting measurable targets (product formulation) and timelines to reduce sodium, free sugars, saturated fat, artificially produced trans-fat and meal portion sizes
- Implementing kilojoule labelling
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- Implementing a policy on marketing to children that effectively restricts the exposure of children and adolescents (up to the age of 18) to the promotion of ‘less healthy’ foods/ brands
- Committing to making healthier and lower kilojoule meal options
- Introducing a pricing strategy (product accessibility) that positions healthier products at a similar or lower price to ‘less healthy’ equivalents
To add further insult to injury, Domino’s scored zero in the following categories: corporate strategy; setting measurable targets for reductions in substances (product formulation); marketing to children; and product accessibility.
In Australia, 2 out of every 3 adults are overweight or obese; and 1 in 4 children are overweight or obese.
According to the study, the policies and actions of the quick service restaurant industry can have a significant impact on population diets.
The report says along with obesity, unhealthy diets are leading contributors to poor health; and Australians spend nearly 32% of their household food budget on fast food and eating out.
“This has a high cost to the economy, including large impacts on the health care system and productivity. The average fast food meal contains almost half of an adult’s recommended daily energy intake.”
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According to the report, the majority of the largest quick service restaurants in Australia do not publicly identify nutrition and health as a focus area. Across the sector, there is limited disclosure of company efforts to address obesity and population nutrition issues.
This project was conducted by researchers within the Global Obesity Centre (GLOBE), a WHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, at Deakin University. The project team was led by Associate Professor Gary Sacks.
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