Nutrition label experience and consumption of transitional foods among a nationwide cohort of 42,750 Thai adults

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the usefulness of nutrition labels in Thailand during nutrition transition from traditional to modern diets that increase salt, sugar, and calorie intake and to note socio-demographic interactions and associations with consumption of transitional processed foods. Design/methodology/approach The authors studied 42,750 distance learning Open University adults aged 23-96 years in 2013 residing nationwide and participating in an ongoing community-based prospective cohort study. The authors used multivariable logistic regression to relate nutrition label experiences (“read”, “good understand”, “frequent use”), socio-demographic factors, and consumption of four transitional foods. These foods included “unhealthy” instant foods, carbonated soft drinks, and sweet drinks, or “healthy” milk. Findings Overall, two-thirds reported good understanding and frequent use of nutrition labels. Unhealthy transition-indicator processed foods were frequently consumed: instant foods (7 per cent), (carbonated) soft drinks (15 per cent), and sweet drinks (41 per cent). Frequent users of nutrition labels (e.g. females, older persons, professionals) were less likely to consume unhealthy indicator foods. Those with the most positive overall nutrition label experience (“read” + “good understanding” + “frequent use”) had the best indicator food profiles: instant foods (odds ratio (OR) 0.63; 95%CI, 0.56-0.70); soft drinks (OR 0.56; 95%CI, 0.52-0.61); sweet drinks (OR 0.79; 95%CI, 0.74-0.85); milk (OR 1.87; 95%CI, 1.74-2.00). Originality/value Knowledge protected – those with most nutrition label experience were least likely to consume unhealthy foods. Results support government regulated nutrition labels, expanding to include sweet drinks. The study is remarkable for its large size and nationwide footprint. Study subjects were educated, represent Thais of the future, and show high awareness of transition-indicator foods.

Download Full-text

Accuracy of nutrition labels of pre-packaged foods in Malaysia

British Food Journal ◽

10.1108/bfj-07-2016-0306 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 119 (2) ◽

pp. 230-241 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Sing Chuan Kok ◽

Che Wan Jasimah Mohamed Radzi

Keyword(s):

Free Trade ◽

Tolerance Limit ◽

Tolerance Limits ◽

Nutrition Label ◽

Nutrition Labels ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Content Type ◽

Food Industries ◽

Prepackaged Foods ◽

The Government

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the prepackaged foods in Malaysia are able to provide credible nutrition labels for consumers and how many prepackaged foods do not comply with the tolerance limits, regardless of whether the products are sold in Malaysia or exported to overseas even though there are no standardization of tolerance limits. Design/methodology/approach The present study consists of 300 samples (triplicate samples for each product) of core nutrients (energy, fat, carbohydrate and protein), which have been stratified into eight categories, were analysed and the analytical values were compared with the declared values. Compliance of products were obtained through the comparison with different guidelines. Findings About 34 per cent of analysed products did not comply with the tolerance limit according to the Food Act 1983, Malaysia (one way approach tolerance limit). Then, 73 per cent of products failed to comply with the tolerance leeway ±20 per cent (two-way approach) and 56 per cent of products did not comply with the tolerance limits set in the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services. Research limitations/implications Many researches have proved that consumers used nutrition label as a tool to improve their healthy lifestyles. The misleading of nutrition label will elicit detrimental effect to consumers especially who always rely on the nutrition label before purchasing. Hence, credibility of nutrition label is imperative. However, this research only focussed on four major core nutrients. Nutrients such as trans-fat and sodium have proved that are detrimental to human’s health are not covered in the study. Practical implications First, this research could directly reflect the credibility of nutrition label in the market. The government of the country should improve the surveillance activity on nutrition label. Meantime, free trade activities especially on food industries are active now; an accurate nutrition label is the first key to success in the business. This research can inject awareness to food producers who incline to do global free trade business shall always assure the accuracy of the nutrition label no matter the tolerance or guidelines are different among the countries. Originality/value There are many research about improvement in consumers’ awareness towards nutrition label but very little research conducted on the accuracy of nutrition label. The main purpose of those research is to improve public health awareness but this may become insignificant if the values of nutrition label are inaccurate. Then, the asymmetric of tolerance limits would trigger awareness from policy makers or food manufacturers to be more responsible in providing credible nutrition label. At the end, consumers are protected from inaccurate nutrition labels and a healthy nation can be sustained.

Download Full-text

Factors instead of demographic characteristics related to nutrition label use

British Food Journal ◽

10.1108/bfj-04-2015-0160 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 117 (12) ◽

pp. 3024-3038 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Pi-Chuan Sun ◽

Hsien-Long Huang ◽

Fang-Yi Chu

Keyword(s):

Self Efficacy ◽

Nutrition Knowledge ◽

Moderating Effect ◽

Nutrition Label ◽

Nutrition Labels ◽

Content Type ◽

Ethical Evaluation ◽

Health Consciousness ◽

Knowledge Group ◽

Label Use

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how health consciousness and nutrition self-efficacy influence attitudes towards and use of nutrition labels, the moderating effect of nutrition knowledge between health consciousness and nutrition label attitude, and the impact of the consumer’s ethical evaluation of a business on nutrition label use. Design/methodology/approach – This study proposes an integrative model that includes health consciousness, nutrition self-efficacy, nutrition knowledge, nutrition label attitude, ethical evaluation, and nutrition label use. Empirical data were collected from a famous website in Taiwan by a non-ordered questionnaire to decrease the priming effect, and 306 valid questionnaires were collected. The collected data were analysed using SPSS and AMOS software. Findings – The results show that both health consciousness and nutrition self-efficacy have direct effects on nutrition label attitude, and this attitude will influence label use. There is a moderating effect of nutrition knowledge, in terms of both subjective and objective nutrition label knowledge, between health consciousness and nutrition label attitude. However, the moderating effect in the low nutrition label knowledge group is slightly greater than in the high nutrition label knowledge group. The consumer’s ethical evaluation of businesses affects nutrition label use. Originality/value – This study is the first to indicate that nutrition label knowledge, both subjective and objective, will moderate the relationship between consumers’ health consciousness and their attitude towards nutrition labels. Furthermore, this study affirms the relationship between the consumer’s ethical evaluation of a firm and nutrition label use.

Download Full-text

Socio-demographic and lifestyle factors associated with nutrition label use among Malaysian adults

British Food Journal ◽

10.1108/bfj-01-2015-0001 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 117 (11) ◽

pp. 2777-2787 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Yong Kang Cheah ◽

Foong Ming Moy ◽

Debbie Ann Loh

Keyword(s):

Dietary Habits ◽

Food Selection ◽

Lifestyle Factors ◽

Future Research ◽

Nutrition Label ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Nutrition Labels ◽

Content Type ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Label Use

Purpose – Nutrition labels bridge communication between food manufacturers and consumers and are instrumental in shaping food choices and dietary habits. Gaining insight into the factors associated with nutrition label use precedes evaluating the effectiveness of these labels. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the socio-demographic and lifestyle factors associated with nutrition label use among multi-ethnic Malaysian adults. Design/methodology/approach – Data from the Third National Health and Morbidity Survey (n=39,506) on nutrition label use was analysed. Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the factors associated with reading nutrition labels, adjusted for confounders. Findings – The findings show that females, young adults aged between 18 and 30 years, Malays, tertiary educated, singles, employed individuals, physically active adults and non-smokers were significantly associated with increased odds of nutrition label use. Research limitations/implications – Causality could not be established due to the cross-sectional study design. The scope of the data collected limited investigations to the socio-demographic and lifestyle factors associated with nutrition label use. Future research measuring consumers’ attention, motivation and comprehension of nutrition label use and subsequent food selection should be conducted. Practical implications – Health promotion efforts targeted towards promoting the use of nutrition label among males, older adults aged between 31 and 40 years, ethnic minorities, primary educated, widowed/divorced individuals, unemployed, physically inactive and smokers are recommended. Originality/value – This nationwide study provides valuable insights into the socio-demographic and lifestyle factors significantly associated with nutrition label use among Malaysian adults.

Download Full-text

Recommendations for handling glass bottles, containing carbonated soft drinks or carbonated water, in filling plants, warehouses, and retailers' premises

10.3403/00251971 ◽

1991 ◽

Keyword(s):

Soft Drinks ◽

Carbonated Soft Drinks ◽

Carbonated Water ◽

Glass Bottles

Download Full-text

Separation and Detection of Caffeine, Theophylline and Theobromine from Coffee Varieties, Carbonated Soft Drinks and Alcoholic Beverages

Revista de Chimie ◽

10.37358/rc.17.11.5959 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 68 (11) ◽

pp. 2704-2707

Author(s):

Delia Nica Badea ◽

Codrina Levai

Keyword(s):

Food Safety ◽

Mobile Phase ◽

Soft Drinks ◽

Alcoholic Beverages ◽

Instrumental Method ◽

Spectral Library ◽

Active Components ◽

Carbonated Soft Drinks ◽

Mass Detector ◽

Methyl Xanthine

The paper evaluates the presence of methyl xanthine compounds: caffeine, theophylline, theobromine used as ingredients in carbonated soft drinks or as color and flavor ingredients in alcoholic beverages. The active components extracted from the selected products (coffee, tea, drinks) was separated and identified chromatographically using plates with silica nano -Sil NH2 / UV-254, mobile phase ethanol - water (50: 1, 50: 3, 50: 5; 50: 7; v / v) and 60 F254 plates, mobile phase acetone-toluene-chloroform (40:30:30 v / v). Separated caffeine and identified by TLC was analyzed using a HelWet Packard 5890 Gas Chromatograph equipped with MS 5972 mass detector and spectral library to confirm identification. This simple and rapid TLC, GC / MS instrumental method is useful in controlling traces of methyl xanthine compounds in food as a food safety measure.is useful in controlling traces compound of food products containing methylxanthines as a food safety measure.

Download Full-text

Consumption of carbonated soft drinks among Ghanaian adolescents: associations with socio-demographic factors, health risk factors and psychological distress

Nutrition and Health ◽

10.1177/0260106021996933 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 026010602199693

Author(s):

Prince Atorkey ◽

Mariam Akwei ◽

Winifred Asare-Doku

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Health Risk ◽

Soft Drink ◽

Demographic Factors ◽

Soft Drinks ◽

Health Risk Factors ◽

Soft Drink Consumption ◽

Carbonated Soft Drinks ◽

Socio Demographic Factors

Background: Carbonated soft drinks consumption is associated with weight gain and other chronic diseases. Aim: To examine whether socio-demographic factors, health risk factors and psychological distress are associated with carbonated soft drink consumption among adolescents in selected senior high schools in Ghana. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2012 Ghana Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS). Participants consisted of 1756 school-going adolescents sampled using a two-stage cluster sampling method. Binomial logistic regression was used to determine whether socio-demographic factors, health risk factors and psychological distress were associated with consumption of soft drinks. Results: The prevalence of carbonated soft drinks consumption was 34.9%. Males (odds ratio (OR) = 0.73 (95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.59–0.92); p = 0.007), and participants with high socio-economic status (OR = 0.76 (95% CI 0.48–0.97); p = 0.033) had smaller odds for consumption of soft drinks. Also, adolescents in Senior High School (SHS) 3 (OR = 0.72 (95% CI 0.53–0.97); p = 0.034) and SHS 4 (OR = 0.63 (95% CI 0.43–0.91); p = 0.014) had smaller odds for soft drinks intake compared to those in SHS 1. Health risk factors associated with greater odds of high soft drink consumption were tobacco use (OR = 1.68, (95% CI 1.07–2.65); p = 0.025), fast food consumption (OR = 1.88, (95% CI 1.47–2.41); p = 0.011) and alcohol consumption (OR = 1.43, (95% CI 1.02–1.99); p = 0.039). Consuming adequate fruit (OR = 0.19 (95% CI 0.15–0.24); p = 0.000) and adequate vegetable (OR = 0.55 (95% CI 0.34–0.87); p = 0.011) were associated with lower odds for soft drink consumption. Adolescents who reported feeling anxious had smaller odds for soft drink intake (OR = 0.65, (95% CI 0.47–0.91); p = 0.011). Conclusions: The findings from this study show that socio-demographic characteristics, health risk factors and psychological distress are associated with the soft drink consumption among adolescents in Ghana. Interventions aimed at reducing soft drink consumption and other health risk factors are needed.

Download Full-text

Exploring claims and marketing techniques in Brazilian food labels

British Food Journal ◽

10.1108/bfj-08-2018-0516 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 121 (7) ◽

pp. 1550-1564 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rafaela Corrêa Pereira ◽

Michel Cardoso de Angelis-Pereira ◽

João de Deus Souza Carneiro

Keyword(s):

Product Category ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Claims ◽

Alcoholic Beverages ◽

Processed Foods ◽

Nutrition And Health ◽

Content Type ◽

Food Market ◽

Packaged Food ◽

Nutrition And Health Claims

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the packaged food market in Brazil by examining the use of nutrition and health claims and marketing techniques, as well as the different levels of industrial food processing in relation to product category, nutrition information and price. Design/methodology/approach A survey was conducted on the labels of pre-packed foods and non-alcoholic beverages marketed in a home-shopping website in Brazil. Findings The authors showed that the use of nutrition and health claims on packaged foods in Brazil is widespread and varied across different food categories. Marketing techniques were also prevalent, and techniques emphasising general health, well-being or naturalness were the most frequent type used. Overall, products carrying nutrition and health claims and/or using marketing techniques had lower content of fat and higher content of fibre. However, the high prevalence of these strategies in ultra-processed foods is alarming. The presence of health claims and use of marketing techniques was not found to be an effective modifier of the three price measures. However, processed and ultra-processed foods were more expensive than unprocessed foods when considering price per energy and price per 100 g or mL. Originality/value These results indicate that there are clear opportunities to improve the packaged food environment in supermarkets. It is important to highlight the need to develop public policies to address these issues, including restriction of the promotion and advertising of unhealthy foods and beverages and use of warning labels.

Download Full-text

Serving sizes and energy values on the nutrition labels of regular and diet/light processed and ultra-processed dairy products sold in Brazil

British Food Journal ◽

10.1108/bfj-10-2015-0353 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 118 (7) ◽

pp. 1579-1593 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Priscila Pereira Machado ◽

Mariana Vieira dos Santos Kraemer ◽

Nathalie Kliemann ◽

Cláudia Flemming Colussi ◽

Marcela Boro Veiros ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Energy Density ◽

Dairy Products ◽

Dairy Product ◽

Accurate Information ◽

Nutrition Labels ◽

Content Type ◽

Size Information ◽

Nutrition Labelling ◽

Serving Sizes ◽

Serving Size

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse and compare the serving sizes and energy values reported on the nutrition information of all processed and ultra-processed dairy products in their regular and diet/light versions available for sale in a large supermarket in Brazil. Design/methodology/approach – A check was done for associations between the compliance of reported serving sizes, energy values per serving and energy density for regular foods and foods advertised at “diet/light” (with reduced fat and calories). Findings – The data included information from 451 dairy product labels. Most of the products had serving sizes smaller than the reference set by Brazilian law. A high variability of serving sizes was found for similar products. “Diet/light” foods tend to report serving sizes that are even smaller and more inadequate. Moreover, the energy density of these products was similar to that of the regular foods. Smaller serving sizes may be being presented on “diet/light” foods in order to report lower energy values and on similar foods to show non-existent differences in energy values. These results point to the importance of standardizing serving size information on food labels so that consumers have access to clear and accurate information about food products. Originality/value – This was the first census-type study to analyse the serving size information of dairy products at a supermarket of one of the ten largest supermarket chains in Brazil. This work extends the scope of current food labelling and contributes to the discussion about how nutrition labelling has been presented to Brazilian consumers and its possible consequences for food choices and the guarantee of consumer rights.

Download Full-text

Moving the needle: can training alter officer perceptions and use of de-escalation?

Policing An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management ◽

10.1108/pijpsm-08-2020-0140 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Michael D. White ◽

Victor J. Mora ◽

Carlena Orosco ◽

E. C. Hedberg

Keyword(s):

Controlled Trial ◽

Police Department ◽

Content Type ◽

Officer Safety ◽

Frequent Use ◽

Before And After ◽

June July ◽

Officer Attitudes ◽

Excessive Use Of Force ◽

And Control

PurposeDe-escalation training for police has received widespread attention as a method for reducing unnecessary and excessive use of force. There is virtually no research on de-escalation, and as a result, there is little understanding about what it is, what it includes and whether it is effective. The current study compares attitudes about the importance and use of de-escalation among officers who were randomly assigned to participate (or not) in de-escalation training.Design/methodology/approachThe current study draws from a larger randomized controlled trial of de-escalation training in the Tempe, Arizona Police Department (TPD). Approximately 100 officers completed a survey in June–July 2019 and again in June–July 2020. TPD delivered the de-escalation training to half the patrol force in February–March 2020. The authors compare treatment and control officers' attitudes about the importance of specific de-escalation tactics, how often they use those tactics and their sentiments de-escalation training. The authors employ an econometric random-effects model to examine between-group differences post-training while controlling for relevant officer attributes including age, race, sex, prior training and squad-level pretraining attitudes about de-escalation.FindingsTreatment and control officers reported positive perceptions of de-escalation tactics, frequent use of those tactics and favorable attitudes toward de-escalation before and after the training. After receiving the training, treatment officers placed greater importance on compromise, and reported more frequent use of several important tactics including compromise, knowing when to walk away and maintaining officer safety.Originality/valueOnly a few prior studies have has examined whether de-escalation training changes officer attitudes. The results from the current study represent an initial piece of evidence suggesting de-escalation training may lead to greater use of those tactics by officers during encounters with citizens.

Download Full-text