Amy M Carrad1, Jimmy Chun Yu Louie2, Heather R Yeatman1, Elizabeth K Dunford3, Bruce C Neal3, Victoria M Flood4. 1. 1School of Health & Society,University of Wollongong,Wollongong,New South Wales,Australia. 2. 2School of Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Science,University of Sydney,Level 4 East,The Hub,D17 Charles Perkins Centre,The University of Sydney,NSW 2006,Australia. 3. 3The George Institute for Global Health,Royal Prince Alfred Hospital,Camperdown,New South Wales,Australia. 4. 4Faculty of Health Sciences,University of Sydney,Lidcombe,New South Wales,Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare two front-of-pack nutrition labelling systems for the assessment of packaged foods and drinks with Australian Dietary Guidelines. DESIGN: A cross-sectional nutrient profiling assessment. Food and drink products (n 20 225) were categorised into scoring levels using criteria for the Institute of Medicine (IOM) three-star system and the five-star Australian Health Star Rating (HSR). The effectiveness of these systems to categorise foods in accordance with Australian Dietary Guidelines was explored. SETTING: The study was conducted in Australia, using a comprehensive food database. SUBJECTS: Packaged food and drink products (n 20 225) available in Australia. RESULTS: Using the IOM three-star system, the majority (55 %) of products scored the minimum 0 points and 25·5 % scored the maximum 3 points. Using HSR criteria, the greatest proportion of products (15·2 %) scored three-and-a-half stars from a possible five and 12·5 % received the lowest rating of a half-star. Very few products (4·1 %) scored five stars. Products considered core foods and drinks in Australian Dietary Guidelines received higher scores than discretionary foods in all food categories for both labelling systems (all P<0·05; Mann-Whitney U test), with the exception of fish products using IOM three-star criteria (P=0·603). The largest discrepancies in median score between the two systems were for the food categories edible oils, convenience foods and dairy. CONCLUSIONS: Both the IOM three-star and Australian HSR front-of-pack labelling systems rated packaged foods and drinks broadly in line with Australian Dietary Guidelines by assigning core foods higher ratings and discretionary foods lower ratings.
OBJECTIVE: To compare two front-of-pack nutrition labelling systems for the assessment of packaged foods and drinks with Australian Dietary Guidelines. DESIGN: A cross-sectional nutrient profiling assessment. Food and drink products (n 20 225) were categorised into scoring levels using criteria for the Institute of Medicine (IOM) three-star system and the five-star Australian Health Star Rating (HSR). The effectiveness of these systems to categorise foods in accordance with Australian Dietary Guidelines was explored. SETTING: The study was conducted in Australia, using a comprehensive food database. SUBJECTS: Packaged food and drink products (n 20 225) available in Australia. RESULTS: Using the IOM three-star system, the majority (55 %) of products scored the minimum 0 points and 25·5 % scored the maximum 3 points. Using HSR criteria, the greatest proportion of products (15·2 %) scored three-and-a-half stars from a possible five and 12·5 % received the lowest rating of a half-star. Very few products (4·1 %) scored five stars. Products considered core foods and drinks in Australian Dietary Guidelines received higher scores than discretionary foods in all food categories for both labelling systems (all P<0·05; Mann-Whitney U test), with the exception of fish products using IOM three-star criteria (P=0·603). The largest discrepancies in median score between the two systems were for the food categories edible oils, convenience foods and dairy. CONCLUSIONS: Both the IOM three-star and Australian HSR front-of-pack labelling systems rated packaged foods and drinks broadly in line with Australian Dietary Guidelines by assigning core foods higher ratings and discretionary foods lower ratings.
Entities:
Keywords:
Dietary guidelines; Front-of-pack label; Health star rating; Institute of Medicine; Nutrient profiling
Authors: Sanne A E Peters; Elizabeth Dunford; Alexandra Jones; Cliona Ni Mhurchu; Michelle Crino; Fraser Taylor; Mark Woodward; Bruce Neal Journal: Nutrients Date: 2017-07-05 Impact factor: 5.717