The foodscape: classification and field validation of secondary data sources

The aims were to; develop a food environment classification tool and to test the acceptability and validity of three secondary sources of food environment data within a defined urban area of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, using a field validation method. A 21 point (with 77 sub-categories) classification tool was developed. The fieldwork recorded 617 establishments selling food and/or food products. The sensitivity analysis of the secondary sources against fieldwork for the Local Authority data was good (83.6%), while Yell.com and the Yellow Pages were low (51.2% and 50.9% respectively). To improve the quality of secondary data, multiple sources should be used in order to achieve a realistic picture of the foodscape.