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Parra-Murillo M, Lowery CM, Gómez LF, Mora-Plazas M, Taillie LS, Dillman Carpentier FR. Claims on Ready-to-Eat Cereals: Are Those With Claims Healthier? Front Nutr 2021; 8:770489. [PMID: 34901117 PMCID: PMC8662936 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.770489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The use of advertising content strategies that suggest consuming a product will confer nutrient- and health-related benefits influences household food purchasing decisions, which increases consumption of energy-dense, nutrient-poor products. We examined the presence of marketing claims regarding nutrient content, health and nature in ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal packages in relation to the products' nutritional quality. Methods: A cross-sectional content analysis was conducted on 178 RTE cereal packages available in the six largest supermarket chains in four Colombian cities from August to November 2018. The nutritional quality of products was assessed through the nutrient profile model established by the Chilean Law of Food Labeling and Advertising law. Results: All products sampled exceeded the regulation threshold for at least one nutrient of concern (e.g., high-in calories and/or sugar). The majority (66.3%) of packages had claims related to nature, 57.3% had nutrient-content claims, and 15.7% had health benefit or risk avoidance claims. Most products with nature, nutrient-content, and health claims were high in energy (99.2, 98.0, and 92.9%, respectively) and sugar (88.1, 87.3, and 92.9%, respectively). Conclusion: RTE cereal products offered in major Colombian supermarket chains are heavily marketed using nutrition- and nature-related claims. Nearly all products with claims are high in energy and sugar, despite the messages conveyed by the claims to consumers. Results support the implementation of mandatory regulations restricting claims on food and beverage products high in nutrients of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Caitlin M Lowery
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Luis F Gómez
- Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Mercedes Mora-Plazas
- Departamento de Nutrición Humana, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Lindsey Smith Taillie
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.,Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
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Talati Z, Pettigrew S, Neal B, Dixon H, Hughes C, Kelly B, Miller C. Consumers' responses to health claims in the context of other on-pack nutrition information: a systematic review. Nutr Rev 2017; 75:260-273. [PMID: 28371913 DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuw070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Context The presence of health claims on food packaging can positively bias consumers' evaluations of foods. This review examined whether cognitive biases endure when other sources of nutrition information [the nutrition facts panel (NFP) and front-of-pack labels] appear on-pack with health claims. The following databases were searched: Web of Science, Ovid, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Scopus, ProQuest, and Wiley Online Library. The search terms ("health claim*" OR "nutri* claim") AND ("food label*" OR "front of pack") were used to identify studies. Twenty-four studies that examined health claims and front-of-pack labels or the NFP were included. The NFP can reduce bias, but only if consumers view it and interpret it correctly, which often does not occur. Front-of-pack labels show greater promise in reducing bias created by health claims. These findings are relevant to policymakers who are considering the effectiveness of mandating an NFP and/or a front-of-pack label alongside health claims.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zenobia Talati
- Z. Talati and S. Pettigrew are with the School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia. B. Neal is with The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. H. Dixon is with the Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. C. Hughes is with the Cancer Council, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. B. Kelly is with the School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. C. Miller is with the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. C. Miller is with the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Simone Pettigrew
- Z. Talati and S. Pettigrew are with the School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia. B. Neal is with The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. H. Dixon is with the Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. C. Hughes is with the Cancer Council, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. B. Kelly is with the School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. C. Miller is with the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. C. Miller is with the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Bruce Neal
- Z. Talati and S. Pettigrew are with the School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia. B. Neal is with The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. H. Dixon is with the Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. C. Hughes is with the Cancer Council, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. B. Kelly is with the School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. C. Miller is with the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. C. Miller is with the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Helen Dixon
- Z. Talati and S. Pettigrew are with the School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia. B. Neal is with The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. H. Dixon is with the Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. C. Hughes is with the Cancer Council, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. B. Kelly is with the School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. C. Miller is with the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. C. Miller is with the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Clare Hughes
- Z. Talati and S. Pettigrew are with the School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia. B. Neal is with The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. H. Dixon is with the Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. C. Hughes is with the Cancer Council, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. B. Kelly is with the School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. C. Miller is with the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. C. Miller is with the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Bridget Kelly
- Z. Talati and S. Pettigrew are with the School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia. B. Neal is with The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. H. Dixon is with the Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. C. Hughes is with the Cancer Council, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. B. Kelly is with the School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. C. Miller is with the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. C. Miller is with the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Caroline Miller
- Z. Talati and S. Pettigrew are with the School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia. B. Neal is with The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. H. Dixon is with the Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. C. Hughes is with the Cancer Council, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. B. Kelly is with the School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. C. Miller is with the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. C. Miller is with the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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Bernstein JT, Franco-Arellano B, Schermel A, Labonté MÈ, L'Abbé MR. Healthfulness and nutritional composition of Canadian prepackaged foods with and without sugar claims. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2017; 42:1217-1224. [PMID: 29057678 DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2017-0169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate differences in calories, nutrient content, overall healthfulness, and use of sweetener ingredients between products with and without sugar claims. Consumers assume products with sugar claims are healthier and lower in calories. It is therefore important claims be found on comparatively healthier items. This study is a cross-sectional analysis of the University of Toronto's 2013 Food Label Database. Subcategories where at least 5% of products (and n ≥ 5) carried a sugar claim were included (n = 3048). Differences in median calorie content, nutrient content, and overall healthfulness, using the Food Standards Australia/New Zealand Nutrient Profiling Scoring criterion, between products with and without sugar claims, were determined. Proportion of products with and without claims that had excess free sugar levels (≥10% of calories from free sugar) and that contained sweeteners was also determined. Almost half (48%) of products with sugar claims contained excess free sugar, and a greater proportion contained sweeteners than products without such claims (30% vs 5%, χ2 = 338.6, p < 0.0001). Overall, products with sugar claims were "healthier" and had lower median calorie, free sugar, total sugar, and sodium contents than products without claims. At the subcategory level, reductions in free sugar contents were not always met with similar reductions in calorie contents. This study highlights concerns with regards to the nutritional composition of products bearing sugar claims. Findings can support educational messaging to assist consumer interpretation of sugar claims and can inform changes in nutrition policies, for example, permitting sugar claims only on products with calorie reductions and without excess free sugar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jodi T Bernstein
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E2, Canada.,Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E2, Canada
| | - Beatriz Franco-Arellano
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E2, Canada.,Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E2, Canada
| | - Alyssa Schermel
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E2, Canada.,Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E2, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Labonté
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E2, Canada.,Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E2, Canada
| | - Mary R L'Abbé
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E2, Canada.,Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E2, Canada
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Cooper SL, Pelly FE, Lowe JB. Construct and criterion-related validation of nutrient profiling models: A systematic review of the literature. Appetite 2016; 100:26-40. [PMID: 26850312 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2016.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 02/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Nutrient profiling (NP) is defined as the science of ranking foods according to their nutritional composition for the purpose of preventing disease or promoting health. The application of NP is ultimately to assist consumers to make healthier food choices, and thus provide a cost effective public health strategy to reduce the incidence of diet-related chronic disease. To our knowledge, no review has assessed the evidence to confirm the validity of NP models. We conducted a systematic review to investigate the construct and criterion-related validity of NP models in ranking food according to their nutritional composition for the purpose of preventing disease and promoting health. We searched peer-reviewed research published to 30 June 2015 and used PUBMED, Global Health (CABI), and SCOPUS databases. Within study bias was assessed using an adapted version of the QUADAS-2 (Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies -2) tool for all diagnostic studies and the Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias tool for all non-diagnostic studies. The GRADE (Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) approach was used to guide our judgement of the quality of the body of evidence for each outcome measure. From a total of 83 studies, 69 confirmed the construct validity of NP models; however most of these studies contained methodological weaknesses. Six studies used objective external measures to confirm the criterion-related validity of NP models; which inherently improved quality. The overall quality of evidence on the accuracy of NP models was judged to be very low to moderate using the GRADE approach. Many carefully designed studies to establish both construct and criterion-related validity are necessary to authenticate the application of NP models and provide the evidence to support the current definition of NP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheri L Cooper
- School of Health and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Queensland, 4558, Australia.
| | - Fiona E Pelly
- School of Health and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Queensland, 4558, Australia.
| | - John B Lowe
- School of Health and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Queensland, 4558, Australia.
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