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Fernandez-Alonso J, Lamas-Mendoza MDM, Rodriguez-Sanchez N, Galloway SDR, Gravina L. Assessing the Validity of Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labels for Evaluating the Healthiness of Mediterranean Food Choices: A Global Comparison. Nutrients 2024; 16:2925. [PMID: 39275241 PMCID: PMC11397339 DOI: 10.3390/nu16172925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2024] [Revised: 08/08/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/16/2024] Open
Abstract
In response to growing public health concerns, governments worldwide have implemented various nutrition labelling schemes to promote healthier eating habits. This study aimed to assess the consistency and effectiveness of these labels in an out-of-home context, specifically focusing on restaurant, hospitality, and institutional food service settings. In total, 178 different dishes from Spain were analysed using labels from the Mazocco method, the UK's traffic light system, the Health Star Rating (Australia), Nutri-Score (France), multiple traffic lights (Ecuador), and warning labels (Chile and Uruguay). The results demonstrated a generally low level of agreement among these labels (K < 0.40), indicating notable variability and a lack of consensus, which could hinder consumers' ability to make informed food choices in out-of-home settings. Nutri-Score classified the highest number of dishes as unhealthy (38%). This study underscores the need for an easy-to-understand labelling system tailored to each country's culinary and socio-cultural contexts to improve consumer decision-making in various dining environments. Future research should focus on developing and testing qualitative methods to more accurately gauge the nutritional quality of cooked dishes in diverse out-of-home settings, thereby enhancing public health outcomes. By addressing the specific needs of the home, restaurants, hospitality, and institutional food services, tailored labelling schemes could significantly improve consumers' ability to make healthier food choices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Fernandez-Alonso
- Nursing I Department, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Bº Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - María Del Mar Lamas-Mendoza
- Nursing I Department, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Bº Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain
- Biobizkaia Basque Health Research Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, Spain
- Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Bilbao-Basurto Integrated Healthcare Organisation, Basurto University Hospital, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Nidia Rodriguez-Sanchez
- Physiology, Exercise and Nutrition Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Stuart D R Galloway
- Physiology, Exercise and Nutrition Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Leyre Gravina
- Nursing I Department, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Bº Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain
- Biobizkaia Basque Health Research Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, Spain
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Zhang L, Langlois E, Williams K, Tejera N, Omieljaniuk M, Finglas P, Traka MH. A comparative analysis of nutritional quality, amino acid profile, and nutritional supplementations in plant-based products and their animal-based counterparts in the UK. Food Chem 2024; 448:139059. [PMID: 38531295 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.139059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Plant-based (PB) food products have surged in popularity over the past decade. Available PB products in the UK market were extracted from NielsenIQ Brandbank and compared with animal-based (AB) counterparts in their nutrient contents and calculated Nutri-Scores. The amino acid contents of four beef products and their PB alternatives were analysed by LC-MS/MS. PB products consistently exhibited significantly higher fibre content across all food groups. Protein was significantly higher in AB products from all food groups except beef and ready meals. PB products were more likely to have higher Nutri-Scores compared to AB counterparts, albeit with greater score variability within each food group. Nutrient fortifications were primarily focused on dairy and ready meals; the most supplemented nutrient was vitamin B12 (found in 15% of all products). A higher proportion of EAAs in relation to total protein content was observed in all beef products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangzi Zhang
- Food and Nutrition National Bioscience Research Infrastructure, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Rosalind Franklin Rd, Norwich NR4 7UQ, United Kingdom.
| | - Ellie Langlois
- Food and Nutrition National Bioscience Research Infrastructure, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Rosalind Franklin Rd, Norwich NR4 7UQ, United Kingdom
| | - Katie Williams
- Food and Nutrition National Bioscience Research Infrastructure, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Rosalind Franklin Rd, Norwich NR4 7UQ, United Kingdom
| | - Noemi Tejera
- Food and Nutrition National Bioscience Research Infrastructure, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Rosalind Franklin Rd, Norwich NR4 7UQ, United Kingdom.
| | - Maja Omieljaniuk
- Food and Nutrition National Bioscience Research Infrastructure, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Rosalind Franklin Rd, Norwich NR4 7UQ, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Finglas
- Food and Nutrition National Bioscience Research Infrastructure, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Rosalind Franklin Rd, Norwich NR4 7UQ, United Kingdom.
| | - Maria H Traka
- Food and Nutrition National Bioscience Research Infrastructure, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Rosalind Franklin Rd, Norwich NR4 7UQ, United Kingdom.
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Faeh D. Risks and benefits of nonsugar sweeteners: conflicting evidence between observational studies and randomized controlled trials. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 2024; 27:344-349. [PMID: 38836812 DOI: 10.1097/mco.0000000000001048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Recommendations on the use of nonsugar sweeteners are contradictory, even if they come from official sources. The aim is to review and discuss recent findings on the potential impact of nonsugar sweeteners on human health. RECENT FINDINGS While randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with short duration and risk factors endpoints mostly show favourable effects on body weight and cardiometabolic parameters when nonsugar sweeteners are used to replaced sugar-sweetened products, observational studies mostly show a positive association between the consumption of nonsugar sweeteners and cardiometabolic diseases. The conflicting results may be explained by the heterogenous nature of nonsugar sweeteners but also likely is a consequence of serious weaknesses of available studies. SUMMARY For more evidence-based recommendations for practice and policy, scientifically sound studies with long follow-up are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Faeh
- Health Department, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Bern
- Division of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Reguant-Closa A, Pedolin D, Herrmann M, Nemecek T. Review of Diet Quality Indices that can be Applied to the Environmental Assessment of Foods and Diets. Curr Nutr Rep 2024; 13:351-362. [PMID: 38625631 PMCID: PMC11133024 DOI: 10.1007/s13668-024-00540-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The aim was to identify indices of diet quality and health that could be applied to the environmental assessment of foods in order to provide metrics that collectively assess nutritional, health and environmental dimensions. RECENT FINDINGS The review identified five major groups of indices: nutrient-food quantity-based; guideline-based; diversity-based; nutrient quality-based; health-based. Nutrient-food quantity-based and guideline type indices were the most frequently used to evaluate diet quality. Scaled assessment using a nutritional functional unit is the most common integration of diet quality with the environmental analysis of foods. There are fewer indices that measure the heath impacts of foods, but epidemiological dietary risk factors seem a promising approach to integrate diet and health impacts into the environmental assessment of foods. Five groups of nutritional and health indices were identified that can be applied when performing an environmental assessment of foods. This review proposes different methodological insights when doing such assessments to ensure transparency and comparability of the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Reguant-Closa
- Life Cycle Assessment Research Group, 191, CH-8046, Reckenholzstrasse, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Dario Pedolin
- Life Cycle Assessment Research Group, 191, CH-8046, Reckenholzstrasse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Moritz Herrmann
- Life Cycle Assessment Research Group, 191, CH-8046, Reckenholzstrasse, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Nemecek
- Life Cycle Assessment Research Group, 191, CH-8046, Reckenholzstrasse, Zurich, Switzerland
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Popova A, Mihaylova D, Lante A. Insights and Perspectives on Plant-Based Beverages. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:3345. [PMID: 37836085 PMCID: PMC10574716 DOI: 10.3390/plants12193345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
The emerging demand for everyday food substitutes is increasing on a daily basis. More and more individuals struggle with allergies and intolerances, which makes it mandatory to provide alternatives for simple products like dairy milk. Plant-based beverages (PBBs) are currently trending due to the multiple diets that promote their consumption with or without a justification. PBBs can derive from various types of plants, not exclusively nuts. Some of the most well-known sources are almonds, soy, rice, and hazelnuts, among others. In view of the need for sustainable approaches to resource utilization and food production, novel sources for PBBs are being sought, and those include fruit kernels. The plant kingdom offers a palette of resources with proven bioactivity, i.e., containing flavonoids, phenolic acids, vitamins, carotenoids, and phenolics, among others. Many of these beneficial substances are water soluble, which means they could be transferred to the plant beverage compositions. The current review aims at comparing the vast number of potential formulations based on their specific nutritional profiles and potential deficiencies, as well as their expected health-promoting properties, based on the raw material(s) used for production. Special attention will be given to the antinutrients, usually abundant in plant-based sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aneta Popova
- Department of Catering and Nutrition, Economics Faculty, University of Food Technologies, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria;
| | - Dasha Mihaylova
- Department of Biotechnology, Technological Faculty, University of Food Technologies, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Anna Lante
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals, and Environment—DAFNAE, Agripolis, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro, Italy;
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Erndt-Marino J, O'Hearn M, Menichetti G. An integrative analytical framework to identify healthy, impactful, and equitable foods: a case study on 100% orange juice. Int J Food Sci Nutr 2023; 74:668-684. [PMID: 37545294 DOI: 10.1080/09637486.2023.2241672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
To identify healthy, impactful, and equitable foods, we combined health scores from six diverse nutrient profiling systems (NPS) into a meta-framework (meta-NPS) and paired this with dietary guideline adherence assessment via multilevel regression and poststratification. In a case-study format, a commonly debated beverage formulation - 100% orange juice (OJ) - was chosen to showcase the utility and depth of our framework, systematically scoring high across multiple food systems (i.e. a Meta-Score percentile = 93rd and Stability percentile = 75th) and leading to an expected increase of US dietary fruit guideline adherence by ∼10%. Moreover, the increased adherence varies across the 300 sociodemographic strata, with the benefit patterns being sensitive to absolute or relative quantification of the difference of adherence affected by OJ. In sum, the adaptable, integrative framework we established deepens the science of nutrient profiling and dietary guideline adherence assessment while shedding light on the nuances of defining equitable health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Meghan O'Hearn
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
- Food Systems for the Future, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Giulia Menichetti
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Besancon S, Beran D, Batal M. A study is 21 times more likely to find unfavourable results about the nutrition label Nutri-Score if the authors declare a conflict of interest or the study is funded by the food industry. BMJ Glob Health 2023; 8:bmjgh-2023-011720. [PMID: 37208123 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-011720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - David Beran
- Division of Tropical and Humanitarian Medicine, UNIGE, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Malek Batal
- Département de nutrition, Faculté de Médecine, UdeM, Montreal, Québec, Canada
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Darmon N. Pour une vision positive de l’alimentation. CAHIERS DE NUTRITION ET DE DIÉTÉTIQUE 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cnd.2023.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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