Web shoppers 'pick healthy foods'

The online shoppers were offered healthier alternatives

Most people shopping online for food will pick healthier options when offered a choice, research suggests.

In an Australian study of nearly 500 online shoppers, most swapped the "bad" foods they had selected for lower fat alternatives when prompted on screen.

The shoppers reduced the saturated fat content of their baskets by 10%.

And they continued to pick the healthier foods on consecutive online shopping trips, the George Institute for International Health study showed.

It could provide advice about salt intake or advice to consumers with specific disease states such as diabetes Investigator Dr Bruce Neal

The study only looked at reducing dietary fat, but the researchers believe similar reductions could be made to dietary salt and sugar to help tackle problems like obesity and heart disease.

Investigator Dr Bruce Neal said: "It could provide advice about salt intake or advice to consumers with specific disease states such as diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol."

His team obtained a list of commonly purchased foods that contained up to 92% saturated fat and identified a suitable low fat alternative for each.

Healthy swaps

As the shoppers selected the fat foods online, a pop-up display offered them the opportunity to stick with their choice or make a healthy swap.

Among the shoppers, who had an average age of 40, those who were older and overweight tended to be most willing to take up the healthy substitutions.

FAT-BUSTING TIPS Opt for skimmed rather than full-fat milk Choose low fat margarines instead of butter Choose vegetable-based sauces instead of creamy ones Try fat-free or low fat yoghurts Buy meats labelled 'lean'

Dr Beckie Lang, of the Association for the Study of Obesity, said it was a great idea.

She said: "It's not making them buy it, it's just showing them there is another option if they want it or to consider it if they are looking to make healthier changes."

Neville Rigby, of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, agreed, but said: "Most people are still going into the supermarkets and buying products off the shelves."

He said clearer food labelling could help, but suggested that checkout tills could also give a print out showing how much sugar and fat was in the trolley load just purchased.

Dr David Haslam of the National Obesity Forum said: "It would be great to see supermarkets follow suit in stores and put healthy ranges on display first and foremost.

"Healthy foods should become the norm and unhealthy options should be labelled unhealthy."

Maura Gillespie of the British Heart Foundation, said: "We are calling for manufacturers and retailers to adopt a consistent approach to front of pack labelling.

"We want to see traffic light colours added to provide at-a-glance information on the nutritional content of food.

"The same information needs to be easily seen when shoppers are choosing products online, so they can see if there is a healthier alternative."