Nutrient content of food-related advertisements seen by women during us-based Spanish- and English-language prime-time television programs

This study contrasted the nutrient content of foods advertised during prime-time US-based network's Spanish-language television programming, having a high viewership of women aged 18 to 35 years with comparable English-language programming. The sample included 269 and 543 food-related advertisements broadcast during Spanish- and English-language prime-time weekday television programming. Restaurants, sweets, and alcoholic beverages were the most prevalent advertisements in both samples. Vegetables, fruits, breads, and cereal advertisements were more common on Spanish-language television. Protein-rich foods, salty snacks, calorie-free beverages, and restaurants advertisements were more frequent on English-language television. Foods advertised on English-language television had more calories, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and protein than Spanish-language food advertisements. Being among the first to analyze food advertisements on Spanish-language television in the United States, this study provides a baseline for future research examining Spanish-language television advertising.