scholarly journals 232The Impact of Australasian Voluntary Front of Pack Nutrition Labelling on Packaged Food Reformulation

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laxman Bablani ◽  
Cliona Ni Mhurchu ◽  
Bruce Neal ◽  
Christopher Skeels ◽  
Kevin Staub ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sugar Content ◽  
Sodium Content ◽  
Healthy Foods ◽  
Nutrition Labelling ◽  
Packaged Foods ◽  
Relative Decline ◽  
Packaged Food ◽  
Voluntary Adoption ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Limited Scope

Abstract Background Front-of-pack nutrition labelling (FoPL) of packaged foods can promote healthier diets. Australia & New Zealand (NZ) adopted the voluntary Health Star Rating (HSR) scheme in 2014. We studied the impact of voluntary adoption of HSR on food reformulation overall, and for more- versus less-healthy foods. Methods Annual nutrition information panel data was collected for non-seasonal packaged foods sold in major supermarkets in Auckland from 2013-19, and Sydney from 2014-18. We used difference-in-differences to estimate reformulation associated with HSR adoption. Results Healthier products adopted HSR more than unhealthy products: 35% of products that achieved four or more stars displayed the label compared to 15% of products that achieved two stars or less. Products that adopted HSR were 6.5% & 10.7% more likely to increase their rating by ≥ 0.5 stars in Australia and NZ, respectively. Labelled products showed a -4.2% [95% CI -6.5% to -1.9%] relative decline in sodium content in NZ, but there was no sodium change in Australia. There was a -2.3% [-3.7% to -1.0 %] change in sugar content in NZ and a -1.1% [-2.2% to 0.0%] difference in Australia. Initially unhealthy products showed larger reformulation when adopting HSR than healthier products. Conclusions Overall, introduction of HSR had a small effect on product reformulation. The voluntary nature of the HSR program lowers effectiveness because labels were mostly placed on already healthy products. These already healthy products had limited scope for reformulation. Key messages HSR adoption by unhealthy products should be incentivized, or mandated, by governments to maximise reformulation

scholarly journals The impact of voluntary front-of-pack nutrition labelling on packaged food reformulation: A difference-in-differences analysis of the Australasian Health Star Rating scheme

PLoS Medicine ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. e1003427
Author(s):  
Laxman Bablani ◽  
Cliona Ni Mhurchu ◽  
Bruce Neal ◽  
Christopher L. Skeels ◽  
Kevin E. Staub ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sugar Content ◽  
Saturated Fat ◽  
Sodium Content ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Difference In Differences ◽  
Star Rating ◽  
Nutrition Labelling ◽  
Packaged Foods ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mandatory Labelling

Background Front-of-pack nutrition labelling (FoPL) of packaged foods can promote healthier diets. Australia and New Zealand (NZ) adopted the voluntary Health Star Rating (HSR) scheme in 2014. We studied the impact of voluntary adoption of HSR on food reformulation relative to unlabelled foods and examined differential impacts for more-versus-less healthy foods. Methods and findings Annual nutrition information panel data were collected for nonseasonal packaged foods sold in major supermarkets in Auckland from 2013 to 2019 and in Sydney from 2014 to 2018. The analysis sample covered 58,905 unique products over 14 major food groups. We used a difference-in-differences design to estimate reformulation associated with HSR adoption. Healthier products adopted HSR more than unhealthy products: >35% of products that achieved 4 or more stars displayed the label compared to <15% of products that achieved 2 stars or less. Products that adopted HSR were 6.5% and 10.7% more likely to increase their rating by ≥0.5 stars in Australia and NZ, respectively. Labelled products showed a −4.0% [95% confidence interval (CI): −6.4% to −1.7%, p = 0.001] relative decline in sodium content in NZ, and there was a −1.4% [95% CI: −2.7% to −0.0%, p = 0.045] sodium change in Australia. HSR adoption was associated with a −2.3% [−3.7% to −0.9%, p = 0.001] change in sugar content in NZ and a statistically insignificant −1.1% [−2.3% to 0.1%, p = 0.061] difference in Australia. Initially unhealthy products showed larger reformulation effects when adopting HSR than healthier products. No evidence of a change in protein or saturated fat content was observed. A limitation of our study is that results are not sales weighted. Thus, it is not able to assess changes in overall nutrient consumption that occur because of HSR-caused reformulation. Also, participation into labelling and reformulation is jointly determined by producers in this observational study, impacting its generalisability to settings with mandatory labelling. Conclusions In this study, we observed that reformulation changes following voluntary HSR labelling are small, but greater for initially unhealthy products. Initially unhealthy foods were, however, less likely to adopt HSR. Our results, therefore, suggest that mandatory labelling has the greatest potential for improving the healthiness of packaged foods.

scholarly journals Labelling completeness and sodium content of packaged foods in India

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (16) ◽  
pp. 2839-2846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Johnson ◽  
Sudhir Raj Thout ◽  
Sailesh Mohan ◽  
Elizabeth Dunford ◽  
Clare Farrand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Products ◽  
Sodium Content ◽  
Nutritional Composition ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Indian Government ◽  
Safety Standards ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
Packaged Foods ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Packaged Food

AbstractObjectiveTo estimate the proportion of products meeting Indian government labelling regulations and to examine the Na levels in packaged foods sold in India.DesignNutritional composition data were collected from the labels of all packaged food products sold at Indian supermarkets in between 2012 and 2014. Proportions of products compliant with the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulations and labelled with Na content, and mean Na levels were calculated. Comparisons were made against 2010 data from Hyderabad and against the UK Department of Health (DoH) 2017 Na targets.SettingEleven large chain retail stores in Delhi and Hyderabad, India.SubjectsPackaged food products (n 5686) categorised into fourteen food groups, thirty-three food categories and ninety sub-categories.ResultsMore packaged food products (43 v. 34 %; P<0·001) were compliant with FSSAI regulations but less (32 v. 38 %; P<0·001) reported Na values compared with 2010. Food groups with the highest Na content were sauces and spreads (2217 mg/100 g) and convenience foods (1344 mg/100 g). Mean Na content in 2014 was higher in four food groups compared with 2010 and lower in none (P<0·05). Only 27 % of foods in sub-categories for which there are UK DoH benchmarks had Na levels below the targets.ConclusionsCompliance with nutrient labelling in India is improving but remains low. Many packaged food products have high levels of Na and there is no evidence that Indian packaged foods are becoming less salty.

scholarly journals The Establishment of Nutrient Profiles for Solid Pre-packaged Food in China

2020 ◽  
pp. 86-96
Author(s):  
Jing Zhu ◽  
Xuesong Xiang ◽  
Xin Wang ◽  
Hans Verhagen ◽  
Yuexin Yang
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin C ◽  
Dietary Fiber ◽  
Reference Value ◽  
Health Claims ◽  
Packaged Foods ◽  
Total Fat ◽  
Nutrient Profiles ◽  
Reference Amount ◽  
Packaged Food ◽  
The Impact

Objectives: To provide scientific and practical criteria for Nutrient Profiles (NP) in China in order to evaluate the overall nutritional quality of solid pre-packaged food according to their nutrient composition. Methods: Based on data obtained from a survey of experts’ grading of foods available in China, a NP model was established, which covered scope of application, choice and balance of nutrients, choice of benchmarks and algorithm used.  Results: A NP model for solid foods was established as a scoring model, the reference amount was 100 g. The recommended intake standards were Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) in labeling regulation. Nutrients taken into account included qualifying nutrients (dietary fiber, vitamin C) and disqualifying nutrients (total fat, saturated fatty acid (SFA), sodium). A total score was calculated as (score of dietary fiber + score of vitamin C) – (score of total fat + score of SFA + score of sodium). Foods with a total score ≤-5were qualified as "less healthy", a score of -4 ≤ total score ≤ 2 was "intermediate" and a total score ≥3 indicated "healthier". Conclusion: A NP model for pre-packaged foods in China was established that can be used to assess and compare the impact of different foods on diet, and help decide which pre-packaged foods are qualified to carry nutrition and health claims.

scholarly journals Packaged Foods Labeled as Organic Have a More Healthful Profile Than Their Conventional Counterparts, According to Analysis of Products Sold in the U.S. in 2019–2020

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 3020
Author(s):  
Aurora Dawn Meadows ◽  
Sydney A. Swanson ◽  
Thomas M. Galligan ◽  
Olga V. Naidenko ◽  
Nathaniel O’Connell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Sugar Content ◽  
Saturated Fat ◽  
Sodium Content ◽  
Organic Foods ◽  
Added Sugar ◽  
Packaged Foods ◽  
Conventional Foods ◽  
The U.S

The organic food market’s recent rapid global growth reflects the public’s interest in buying certified organic foods, including packaged products. Our analysis shows that packaged foods containing fewer ingredients associated with negative public health outcomes are more likely to be labeled organic. Previous studies comparing organic and conventional foods focused primarily on nutrient composition. We expanded this research by additionally examining ingredient characteristics, including processing and functional use. Our dataset included nutrition and ingredient data for 8240 organic and 72,205 conventional food products sold in the U.S. from 2019 to 2020. Compared to conventional foods, organic foods in this dataset had lower total sugar, added sugar, saturated fat and sodium content. Using a mixed effects logistic regression, we found that likelihood of classification as organic increased as sodium content, added sugar content and the number of ultra-processed ingredients and cosmetic additives on the product label decreased. Products containing no trans-fat ingredients were more likely to be labeled organic. A product was more likely to be classified “organic” the more potassium it contained. These features of organic foods sold in the U.S. are significant because lower dietary ingestion of ultra-processed foods, added sugar, sodium and trans-fats is associated with improved public health outcomes.

scholarly journals Contribution of Major Food Companies and Their Products to Household Dietary Sodium Purchases in Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1790-1790
Author(s):  
Daisy Coyle ◽  
Maria Shahid ◽  
Elizabeth Dunford ◽  
Cliona Ni Mhurchu ◽  
Sarah Mckee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Sodium Intake ◽  
Sodium Content ◽  
Dietary Sodium ◽  
Processed Meat ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Packaged Foods ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Packaged Food

Abstract Objectives To support the work of the Australian federal governments proposed sodium reformulation targets, this study sought to identify the relative contribution that different food companies and their products make to household sodium purchases in Australia. We also examined differences in household sodium purchases from packaged foods and beverages by income level. Methods We used one year of grocery purchase data from a nationally representative consumer panel of Australian households who reported their grocery purchases (the Nielsen Homescan panel), combined with a packaged food and beverage database (FoodSwitch) that contains brand- and product-specific sodium information. Outcome measures were sodium purchases per capita (mg/day), sodium density (mg/1000 kcal), and purchase-weighted sodium content (mg/100 g). The top food companies and food categories were ranked according to their contribution to household sodium purchases. Per capita sodium purchases was estimated in household income strata. All analyses were modeled to the Australian population in 2018 using sample weights. Results Sodium data were available from 7188 households who purchased 26,728 unique products and, in total, just under 7.5 million units of foods and beverages. The total sodium acquired from packaged foods and beverages was 1443 mg/day per capita. Out of 1329 food companies, the top 10 accounted for 58% of all sodium purchased from packaged foods and beverages. The top three companies were grocery food retailers each contributing 12–15% of sodium purchases from sales of their private label products, particularly processed meat, cheese and bread. Out of the 67 food categories, the top 10 accounted for 73% of sodium purchased, driven by purchases of processed meat (14%), bread (12%) and sauces (11%). Low-income Australian households purchased substantially more sodium from packaged products than high-income households per capita (220 mg/d, 95% CI: 132–307 mg/d, P &lt; 0.001). Conclusions A small number of food companies and food categories account for the majority of dietary sodium purchased by Australian households. There is an opportunity for governments to prioritize engagement and incentivize key companies and food categories to deliver a large reduction in sodium intake and reduce cardiovascular disease. Funding Sources National Health and Medical Research Council.

scholarly journals Comparison of Healthiness, Labelling, and Price between Private and Branded Label Packaged Foods in New Zealand (2015–2019)

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 2731
Author(s):  
Teresa Castro ◽  
Sally Mackay ◽  
Leanne Young ◽  
Cliona Ni Mhurchu ◽  
Grace Shaw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Sugar Content ◽  
Sodium Content ◽  
Food Composition ◽  
Nutritional Composition ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Packaged Food ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Chi Square Tests

We aimed to compare New Zealand private label (PL) and branded label (BL) packaged food products in relation to their current (2019) healthiness (sodium and sugar contents, and estimated Health Start Rating (HSR) score), display of the voluntary HSR nutrition label on the package, and price. Healthiness and HSR display of products were also explored over time (2015 to 2019). Data were obtained from Nutritrack, a brand-specific food composition database. Means and proportions were compared using Student t-tests and Pearson chi-square tests, respectively. Changes over time were assessed using linear regression and chi-square tests for trends (Mantel–Haenzel tests). Altogether, 4266 PL and 19,318 BL products across 21 food categories were included. Overall, PL products in 2019 had a significantly lower mean sodium content and price, a higher proportion of products with estimated HSR ≥ 3.5/5 (48.9% vs. 38.5%) and were more likely to display the HSR on the pack compared with BL products (92.4% vs. 17.2%, respectively). However, for most food categories, no significant difference was found in mean sodium or sugar content between PL and BL products. In the period 2015–2019, there were no consistent changes in estimated HSR score, sodium or sugar contents of PL or BL products, but there was an increase in the proportion of both PL and BL products displaying HSR labels. In most food categories, there were PL options available which were similar in nutritional composition, more likely to be labelled with the HSR, and lower in cost than their branded counterparts.

scholarly journals Simulating the impact of sodium reduction from packaged foods on population sodium intake in US adults and children

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 488-495
Author(s):  
Elizabeth K Dunford ◽  
Jennifer M Poti
Keyword(s):  
Sodium Intake ◽  
Food Product ◽  
Food Group ◽  
Dietary Recall ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Adults And Children ◽  
Packaged Foods ◽  
Packaged Food ◽  
Nutrition Facts Panel ◽  
The Impact

AbstractObjective:To simulate the impact that Na reductions in food categories that are the largest contributors to dietary Na intake would have on population Na intake from packaged foods among US adults and children.Design:24 h Dietary recall data were used. For each store-bought packaged food product reported by participants, we generated sales-weighted Na content at the median and 25th percentile using Nutrition Facts Panel data from 193 195 products purchased by US households. The impact that Na reductions would have on population Na intake, overall and by sociodemographic subgroup, was examined.SettingsUS households.Participants:Children aged 2–18 years (n 2948) and adults aged >18 years (n 4878), 2011–2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.Results:Na intake from packaged foods was 1258 (se 21) mg for adults and 1215 (se 35) mg for children. Top-ten packaged food group sources contributed 67 % of Na intake. For adults and children, there was a decrease of 8·7 % (109 mg) and 8·0 % (97 mg), respectively, in Na intake if the top-ten sources reduced Na from the median to the 25th percentile. Although absolute reduction in intake varied between sociodemographic subgroups, significant differences were not observed.Conclusions:The study demonstrated that if Na reduction shifted the top-ten packaged food group sources of dietary Na intake from the median to 25th percentile, population Na intake would be reduced by 9 % in US adults and children. These findings will help inform the US government’s Na reduction targets, as well as policy makers’ understanding of differences in intake of critical sub-populations in the USA.

scholarly journals Changes in Nutrient Declaration after the Food Labeling and Advertising Law in Chile: A Longitudinal Approach

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 2371
Author(s):  
Daiana Quintiliano Scarpelli ◽  
Anna Christina Pinheiro Fernandes ◽  
Lorena Rodriguez Osiac ◽  
Tito Pizarro Quevedo
Keyword(s):  
Sugar Content ◽  
Total Sugar ◽  
Food Labeling ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Warning Label ◽  
Total Sugar Content ◽  
Packaged Foods ◽  
Advertising Law ◽  
Sugary Beverages ◽  
The Impact

Chile has implemented several strategies to decrease the burden of obesity and chronic diseases. The Food Labeling and Advertising Law (Law 20.606) requires a front-of-package “high in” warning label when energy and nutrients of concern (ENC) (total sugar, saturated fats, sodium) exceed established limits. This study aims to evaluate the impact of Law 20.606 on the ENC declaration of packaged foods in Chile, before and after the law implementation. We analyzed food nutritional labeling declarations from 70% of the most consumed packaged foods in Chile. Data collection was conducted in 2013 and 2019 in Santiago. Pictures from all sides of the package were taken from 476 products, classified into 16 food groups. All food groups had changes in the ENC declaration during the study period. Total sugar content showed the highest reduction (−15.0%; p = 0.001). Dairy, confitures and similar and sugary beverages had the greatest reduction in energy and total sugar content (p < 0.01). Energy, total sugar and sodium front of package “high in” simulation was significantly reduced in dairy, sugary beverages, flour-based foods, confitures and similar, fish and seafoods, fats and oils, spices, condiments and sauces and sugars (p < 0.05). We observed that companies reformulated products to adapt to the new regulation.

Wybrane socjodemograficzne determinanty postaw konsumentów wobec żywności o obniżonej zawartości cukru

2016 ◽  
pp. 145-157
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Staniewska ◽  
Danuta Jakubowska ◽  
Monika Radzymińska
Keyword(s):  
Research Method ◽  
Sugar Content ◽  
Consumer Attitudes ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Gender And Age ◽  
Indirect Technique ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Interview Questionnaire

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of socio-demographic variables on consumer attitudes towards food with a reduced sugar content. The study was conducted in educational institutions, a university and educational centers for seniors located in the Warmia-Mazury, using a survey research method, indirect technique (an original interview questionnaire). In total, 750 respondents were interviewed. The majority of respondents, regardless of socio-demographic characteristics, assesses the health benefits of the sugar content reduction as large and rather large. Despite this, a relatively small portion of respondents, varied by gender and age, used in their diets sugar substitutes and was interested in products with a reduced sugar content. According to the most of the respondents, lowering the sugar content of a product affects the deterioration of its flavor.

Discretion in Financial Reporting: The Voluntary Adoption of Fair Value Accounting for Employee Stock Options

2004 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dahlia Robinson ◽  
Diane Burton
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Fair Value ◽  
Stock Option ◽  
Employee Stock Options ◽  
Market Returns ◽  
Employee Stock Option ◽  
Accounting Reports ◽  
Voluntary Adoption ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Is Value

This paper investigates the market reaction to announcements by firms of their decision to adopt the fair value provisions of SFAS No. 123 in accounting for their employee stock option (ESO) expense. Additionally, this paper examines ESO usage and expense of adopting firms and compares the impact of the expense on profitability measures for adopting firms relative to a matched set of control firms. We find a positive and significant abnormal return in the three days around the adoption announcements, suggesting that the decision to expense using the fair value method is value relevant. The positive abnormal announcement returns are mainly attributable to the earlier announcements, consistent with early announcements serving as a credible signal of a commitment to transparency in financial reporting. We find evidence that in the three years prior to the announcement year, adopting firms report significantly higher earnings than control firms yet fail to earn higher market returns, suggesting that adopters stand to benefit the most by improving the market's perception of their accounting reports. We also find that ESO usage, ESO expense, and the impact of ESO expense on profitability are significantly lower for adopters relative to control firms, although the impact of ESO expense is economically significant for 43 percent of the adopters.

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