Table 1.
Number of food and beverage advertisements broadcast on 30 television stations in Toronto (Canada) in May of 2011, 2013, 2016 and 2019, overall and by food category
| Food/beverage category | May 2011, n (%) | May 2013, n (%) | May 2016, n (%) | May 2019, n (%) | % change, May 2011 to May 2019 | Absolute difference, May 2019 vs May 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cakes | 52 (0.1)a | 3 (<0.1)a | 423 (0.5)a | 1816 (1.8)a | +3392% | +1764 |
| Candy | 783 (1.0)a | 4559 (5.9)a | 3610 (4.3)a | 3993 (3.9)a | +410% | +3210 |
| Cereal | 7074 (8.8)a | 2970 (3.8)a | 2915 (3.5)a | 8454 (8.3)a | +20% | +1380 |
| Cheese | 5497 (6.9)a | 3674 (4.7)a | 4628 (5.5)a | 3262 (3.2)a | −41% | −2235 |
| Chocolate | 9140 (11.4)a,b | 10,922 (14.1)a,b | 6771 (8.0)a | 8463 (8.3)b | −7% | −677 |
| Compartment snacks | 0 (0)a | 260 (0.3)a,b,c | 0 (0)b | 0 (0)c | - | 0 |
| Cookies | 3765 (4.7)a | 2210 (2.8)a | 1387 (1.6)a | 1029 (1.0)a | −73% | −2736 |
| Energy drinks | 765 (1.0) | 804 (1.0) | 857 (1.0) | 957 (0.9) | +25% | +192 |
| Ice cream | 1254 (1.6)a | 2136 (2.8)a,b | 2612 (3.1)a,b | 1574 (1.5)b | +26% | +320 |
| Juices, drinks and nectars | 3427 (4.3)a,b | 4321 (5.6)a | 4831 (5.7)b | 3214 (3.1)a,b | −6% | −213 |
| Pizza | 2148 (2.7)a | 1207 (1.6)a | 1498 (1.8)a | 1143 (1.1)a | −47% | −1005 |
| Portable snacks | 2397 (3.0)a | 1892 (2.4)a | 1739 (2.1)a | 151 (0.1)a | −94% | −2246 |
| Restaurant - fast food | 26,370 (33.0)a | 25,038 (32.2)a | 34,041 (40.4)a | 45,277 (44.2)a | +72% | +18,907 |
| Restaurant - sit-down | 5686 (7.1)a | 4441 (5.7)a,b | 5480 (6.5)a,b | 7405 (7.2)b | +30% | +1719 |
| Snack foods | 2142 (2.7)a,b | 4850 (6.2)a,b | 5600 (6.6)a | 7079 (6.9)b | +230% | +4937 |
| Soft drinks - diet | 804 (1.0)a,b | 0 (0) a,b | 318 (0.4)a | 413 (0.4)b | −49% | −391 |
| Soft drinks - regular | 1088 (1.4)a,b | 3663 (4.7)a | 3999 (4.7)b | 5569 (5.4)a,b | +412% | +4481 |
| Sports drinks | 360 (0.4)a | 83 (0.1)a | 1006 (1.2)a | 19 (<0.1)a | −95% | −341 |
| Yogurt | 7266 (9.1)a | 4635 (6.0)a | 2646 (3.1)a | 2591 (2.5)a | −64% | −4675 |
| Total | 80,018 (100) | 77,668 (100) | 84,361 (100) | 102,409 (100) | +28% | +22,391 |
The distribution of food ads by food category differs significantly across examined time periods (χ2 = 34206.765; df = 54; p < 0.001). Within rows, matching letters in superscript denote proportions that differ significantly (p < 0.05) according to post hoc z-tests with Bonferroni correction. Data source: Nielsen Media Research (2011, 2013, 2016) and Numerator (2019)