scholarly journals Ultra-processed family foods in Australia: nutrition claims, health claims and marketing techniques

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Elizabeth Pulker ◽  
Jane Anne Scott ◽  
Christina Mary Pollard
Keyword(s):  
Market Share ◽  
Health Claims ◽  
Food Marketing ◽  
Nutrition And Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Added Sugars ◽  
Nutrition Claims ◽  
Common Food ◽  
Healthy Family ◽  
Nutrition And Health Claims

AbstractObjectiveTo objectively evaluate voluntary nutrition and health claims and marketing techniques present on packaging of high-market-share ultra-processed foods (UPF) in Australia for their potential impact on public health.DesignCross-sectional.SettingPackaging information from five high-market-share food manufacturers and one retailer were obtained from supermarket and manufacturers’ websites.SubjectsIngredients lists for 215 UPF were examined for presence of added sugar. Packaging information was categorised using a taxonomy of nutrition and health information which included nutrition and health claims and five common food marketing techniques. Compliance of statements and claims with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code and with Health Star Ratings (HSR) were assessed for all products.ResultsAlmost all UPF (95 %) contained added sugars described in thirty-four different ways; 55 % of UPF displayed a HSR; 56 % had nutrition claims (18 % were compliant with regulations); 25 % had health claims (79 % were compliant); and 97 % employed common food marketing techniques. Packaging of 47 % of UPF was designed to appeal to children. UPF carried a mean of 1·5 health and nutrition claims (range 0–10) and 2·6 marketing techniques (range 0–5), and 45 % had HSR≤3·0/5·0.ConclusionsMost UPF packaging featured nutrition and health statements or claims despite the high prevalence of added sugars and moderate HSR. The degree of inappropriate or inaccurate statements and claims present is concerning, particularly on packaging designed to appeal to children. Public policies to assist parents to select healthy family foods should address the quality and accuracy of information provided on UPF packaging.

scholarly journals Prevalence and Credibility of Nutrition and Health Claims: Policy Implications from a Case Study of Mongolian Food Labels

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (20) ◽  
pp. 7456
Author(s):  
Nyamragchaa Chimedtseren ◽  
Bridget Kelly ◽  
Anne-Therese McMahon ◽  
Heather Yeatman
Keyword(s):  
Claim Data ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Health Claims ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Nutrition And Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Nutrition Claims ◽  
Nutrition And Health Claims ◽  
The Eu

Nutrition and health claims should be truthful and not misleading. We aimed to determine the use of nutrition and health claims in packaged foods sold in Mongolia and examine their credibility. A cross-sectional study examined the label information of 1723 products sold in marketplaces in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The claim data were analysed descriptively. In the absence of national regulations, the credibility of the nutrition claims was examined by using the Codex Alimentarius guidelines, while the credibility of the health claims was assessed by using the European Union (EU) Regulations (EC) No 1924/2006. Nutritional quality of products bearing claims was determined by nutrient profiling. Approximately 10% (n = 175) of products carried at least one health claim and 9% (n = 149) carried nutrition claims. The credibility of nutrition and health claims was very low. One-third of nutrition claims (33.7%, n = 97) were deemed credible, by having complete and accurate information on the content of the claimed nutrient/s. Only a few claims would be permitted in the EU countries by complying with the EU regulations. Approximately half of the products with nutrition claims and 40% of products with health claims were classified as less healthy products. The majority of nutrition and health claims on food products sold in Mongolia were judged as non-credible, and many of these claims were on unhealthy products. Rigorous and clear regulations are needed to prevent negative impacts of claims on food choices and consumption, and nutrition transition in Mongolia.

scholarly journals A Cross-Sectional Audit of Nutrition and Health Claims on Dairy Yoghurts in Supermarkets of the Illawarra Region of New South Wales, Australia

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1835
Author(s):  
Sam-Reith S. Wadhwa ◽  
Anne T. McMahon ◽  
Elizabeth P. Neale
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Health Claims ◽  
Nutrition And Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Nutrition Claims ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Nutrition And Health Claims

Health and nutrition claims are used by consumers to guide purchasing decisions. In consequence, monitoring and evaluation of such claims to ensure they are accurate and transparent is required. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of nutrition and health claims on dairy-yoghurt products within select Australian supermarkets and assess their compliance with the revised Food Standards Code (FSC). Nutrition, health, and related claims on yoghurt products were assessed in a cross-sectional audit of five supermarkets in the Illawarra region of New South Wales. Claim prevalence, type, and compliance were assessed and products were compared against current rating measures. A total of n = 340 dairy yoghurt products were identified. Most products (97.9%) carried at least one nutrition and/or health claim, with nutrition-content claims (93.9%) the most prevalent. Most products (n = 277) met the nutrient profiling scoring criterion; while 87.9% of products did not carry the health star rating. Almost all claims surveyed (97.4%) were compliant with the FSC. Health and nutrition claims are highly prevalent across yoghurt categories, with the majority of these compliant with regulations. The ambiguity surrounding the wording and context of claims challenges researchers to investigate consumers’ interpretations of health messaging within the food environment.

scholarly journals Nutrition and health claims on healthy and less-healthy packaged food products in New Zealand

2016 ◽  
Vol 116 (6) ◽  
pp. 1087-1094 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haya H. Al-Ani ◽  
Anandita Devi ◽  
Helen Eyles ◽  
Boyd Swinburn ◽  
Stefanie Vandevijvere
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Health Claims ◽  
Nutrition And Health ◽  
Nutrition Claims ◽  
Nutrient Profiling ◽  
Packaged Foods ◽  
Packaged Food ◽  
Nutrition And Health Claims

AbstractNutrition and health claims are displayed to influence consumers’ food choices. This study assessed the extent and nature of nutrition and health claims on the front-of-pack of ‘healthy’ and ‘less-healthy’ packaged foods in New Zealand. Foods from eight categories, for which consumption may affect the risk of obesity and diet-related chronic diseases, were selected from the 2014 Nutritrack database. The internationally standardised International Network for Food and Obesity/Non-Communicable Diseases Research, Monitoring and Action Support (INFORMAS) taxonomy was used to classify claims on packages. The Nutrient Profiling Scoring Criterion (NPSC) was used to classify products as ‘healthy’ or ‘less healthy’. In total, 7526 products were included, with 47 % (n 3557) classified as ‘healthy’. More than one-third of products displayed at least one nutrition claim and 15 % featured at least one health claim on the front-of-pack. Claims were found on one-third of ‘less-healthy’ products; 26 % of those products displayed nutrition claims and 7 % featured health claims. About 45 % of ‘healthy’ products displayed nutrition claims and 23 % featured health claims. Out of 7058 individual claims, the majority (69 %) were found on ‘healthy’ products. Cereals displayed the greatest proportion of nutrition and health claims (1503 claims on 564 products), of which one-third were displayed on ‘less-healthy’ cereals. Such claims could be misleading consumers’ perceptions of nutritional quality of foods. It needs to be explored how current regulations on nutrition and health claims in New Zealand could be further strengthened (e.g. using the NPSC for nutrition claims, including general health claims as per the INFORMAS taxonomy) to ensure consumers are protected and not misled.

scholarly journals Estimated effects of the implementation of the Mexican Warning Labels regulation on the use of health and nutrition claims on packaged foods

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Cruz-Casarrubias ◽  
Lizbeth Tolentino-Mayo ◽  
Stefanie Vandevijvere ◽  
Simón Barquera
Keyword(s):  
Food System ◽  
Potential Effect ◽  
Health Claims ◽  
Retail Stores ◽  
Processed Foods ◽  
Warning Labels ◽  
Nutrition And Health ◽  
Nutrition Claims ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
Nutrition And Health Claims

Abstract Background The use of health and nutrition claims on front-of-pack labels has a potential effect on consumers' food choices; therefore, many countries established regulations to avoid misperceptions. This study describes the use of nutrition and health claims on the front-of-pack of food products in retail stores in Mexico and analyze the potential effects of the new front-of-pack labelling regulation on the use of these claims. Methods This is a cross-sectional study in which nutrition and health claims, nutrition information panels, and the list of ingredients of all foods and beverages available in the main retail stores in Mexico City were collected. The products were grouped by level of processing according to the NOVA food system classification. Claims were classified into different types using the internationally harmonized INFORMAS taxonomy. The potential effect of the implementation of the warning label regulations on the use of nutrition and health claims was estimated by food group and by thresholds of energy and critical nutrients according to the new regulation. Results Of 17,264 products, 33.8% displayed nutrition claims and 3.4% health claims. In total 80.8% of all products on the Mexican market were classified as "less healthy"; 48.2% of products had excess calories, 44.6% had excess sodium, and 40.7% excess free sugars according to the new regulation. The new regulation would prevent 39.4% of products with claims from displaying health and nutrition claims (p<0.001); the largest reduction is observed for ultra-processed foods (51.1%, p<0.001). The regulation thresholds that contribute the most of the reduction in the use of claims were calories (OR 0.62, p<0.001) and non-sugar sweeteners (OR 0.54, p<0.001). Conclusions The new Mexican front-of-pack labelling regulation will prevent most of less healthy processed and ultra-processed foods from displaying HNC and will potentially increase the effectiveness of the warning labels for consumers.

Consumers’ exposure to claims on pre-packed bread: the case of a developing country, Lebanon

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 1033-1051
Author(s):  
Christelle Bou-Mitri ◽  
Lama Khnaisser ◽  
Mira Bou Ghanem ◽  
Samar Merhi ◽  
Jessy El-Hayek Fares ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Claims ◽  
Wheat Bread ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Nutrition Claims ◽  
Whole Wheat ◽  
Whole Wheat Bread ◽  
Nutrition And Health Claims

Purpose This study aims to assess the exposure of Lebanese consumers to nutrition and health claims (NHCs) on pre-packed bread. Design/methodology/approach Bread samples (n = 354) from all the bakeries (n = 44) located in Mount Lebanon, between 2017 and 2018, were assessed. Breads with nutrition claims were analyzed using standard methods. A cross-sectional study was also conducted among 400 supermarket shoppers. Findings Results showed that among the collected samples of bread (n = 354), 59.6 per cent carried at least one claim, 47.2 per cent had non-nutrient claims, 32.5 per cent had nutrition claims and 15.3 per cent presented health claims. Claims related to sugar, salt and fiber content were the most commonly used (28.8 , 16.4 and 14.7 per cent, respectively). NHCs were mostly present on whole wheat bread. Breads with claims were more expensive. Half of the participants (49.8 per cent) relied on NHCs whenever purchasing bread, especially females (OR = 2.35, 95 per cent CI = 1.44-3.84, p = 0.001), those following a specific diet (OR = 4.56, 95 per cent CI = 2.02-10.25, p < 0.001) and those with the lowest household income (OR = 0.795, 95 per cent CI = 0.639-0.989, p = 0.040). Originality/value The overall findings showed that Lebanese consumers are highly exposed to NHCs, especially those at higher risk which could lead to serious public health issues if their use is not strictly regulated and controlled. Moreover, NHCs could be used as a tool to increase consumers’ awareness and help them make healthier choices during shopping.

scholarly journals Nutrition and Health Claims Spectra of Pre-Packaged Foods on Serbian Supermarket Shelves: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 2832
Author(s):  
Dragana Davidović ◽  
Katarina Paunović ◽  
Danica Zarić ◽  
Ana Jovanović ◽  
Nadja Vasiljević ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Products ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Claims ◽  
Final Decision ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Nutrition And Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Product Categories ◽  
Packaged Food ◽  
Nutrition And Health Claims

Nutrition and health claims (NHCs) are a powerful tool that influence consumers’ final decision on the choice of food products. The purposes of this repeated cross-sectional study were to (i) assess the prevalence of pre-packaged food products containing nutrition and health claims among different food categories, (ii) to determine the type of NHCs labelled on the examined food products, and (iii) to evaluate the trend in the use of NHCs in comparison to the 2012 survey. The survey was conducted immediately before the full enforcement of the new national legislation on NHCs in 2020. It comprised 3141 pre-packaged food products from 10 product categories. In total, 21.2% of food products contained any claim (19.4% contained any nutrition claim; 8.2% contained any health claim). In comparison to the 2012 survey, we observed a rising trend in the presence of NHCs; the use of nutrition claims on food products increased three times and the use of health claims increased 1.3 times in the 2020 survey. Bearing in mind that NHCs are a powerful tool guiding consumers’ food purchase decisions, NHCs should be supported by precise legislation and strict surveillance by the public health authorities.

scholarly journals An Audit of the Nutrition and Health Claims on Breakfast Cereals in Supermarkets in the Illawarra Region of Australia

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Romi L. Sussman ◽  
Anne T. McMahon ◽  
Elizabeth P. Neale
Keyword(s):  
Health Claims ◽  
Nutrition And Health ◽  
Breakfast Cereal ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Breakfast Cereals ◽  
Cereal Products ◽  
Consumer Confusion ◽  
Almost All ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Nutrition And Health Claims

Nutrition and health claims can promote healthier food choices but may lead to consumer confusion if misused. Regular monitoring of claims is therefore required. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of nutrition and health claims carried on breakfast cereals in supermarkets, and to assess claim compliance with regulations. Nutrition and health claims on breakfast cereal products across five supermarkets in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia, were recorded in a cross-sectional audit. Prevalence of claim type and claim compliance was determined. Claims were compared across categories of breakfast cereal. Almost all (95.7%) products audited carried at least one nutrition or health claim; nutrition content (n = 1096) was more prevalent than health claims (n = 213). Most claims (91.6%) were compliant with regulations. Additionally, claim prevalence and type differed according to breakfast cereal category, with the highest proportion of claims appearing on ‘health and wellbeing’ and ‘muesli’ products. There is a high prevalence of nutrition and health claims on breakfast cereals, with most claims compliant with regulations. Research should investigate consumer interpretation of claims and the impact of applying nutrient profiling for all claims to assist consumers to make informed health choices.

French consumers’ perceptions of nutrition and health claims: A psychosocial-anthropological approach

Appetite ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 105 ◽  
pp. 618-629 ◽  
Author(s):  
Estelle Masson ◽  
Gervaise Debucquet ◽  
Claude Fischler ◽  
Mohamed Merdji
Keyword(s):  
Health Claims ◽  
Nutrition And Health ◽  
Anthropological Approach ◽  
Nutrition And Health Claims

Nutritional Marketing of Plant-Based Meat-Analogue Products: an exploratory study of front-of-pack and website claims in the USA

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-32
Author(s):  
Jennifer Lacy-Nichols ◽  
Libby Hattersley ◽  
Gyorgy Scrinis
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Claims ◽  
Processed Foods ◽  
Nutrition And Health ◽  
Nutrition Claims ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
Alternative Protein ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The Usa

Abstract Objective: To explore how some of the largest food companies involved in producing alternative proteins use health and nutrition claims to market their products. Design: We identified the largest food manufacturers, meat processors, and alternative protein companies selling plant-based alternative protein products in the United States. Using publicly available data, we analysed the voluntary health and nutrition claims made on front-of-pack labels and company webpages. We also analysed company websites for further nutrition and health-related statements about their products or alternative proteins more generally. Claim classification was guided by the INFORMAS (International Network for Food and Obesity/Non-Communicable Diseases Research, Monitoring, and Action Support) taxonomy for health-related food labelling. Setting: United States. Results: 1394 health and nutrition-related front-of-pack label (FOPL) claims were identified on 216 products, including 685 nutrition claims and 709 ´other health-related´ claims. No FOPL health claims were identified. Most nutrient claims were for nutrients associated with meat, with 94% of products carrying a protein claim and 30% carrying a cholesterol claim. 74% of products carried a GMO-free claim and 63% carried a plant-based claim. On their websites, some companies expanded on these claims or discussed the health benefits of specific ingredients. Conclusions: Companies involved in this category appear to be using nutritional marketing primarily to position their products in relation to meat. There is a focus on nutrient and ingredient claims, with discussion of processing largely avoided. The findings highlight the challenges companies face in positioning AP products as healthy against the backdrop of debates about ultra-processed foods.

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