How does the updated Nutri-Score discriminate and classify the nutritional quality of foods in a Norwegian setting?
Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act
; 20(1): 122, 2023 10 10.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37817251
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The Nutri-Score is a candidate for the harmonized mandatory front-of-pack nutrition label enabling consumers in the European Union to make healthier food choices. Nutri-Score classifies foods (including beverages) from A (high nutritional quality) to E (low nutritional quality) based on the foods' qualifying and disqualifying components. We aimed to evaluate the updated Nutri-Score for foods (2022) and beverages (2023) in a Norwegian setting by exploring its ability to discriminate the nutritional quality of foods within categories. Additionally, we assessed Nutri-Scores' ability to classify foods in accordance with the Norwegian food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs).METHODS:
The updated Nutri-Score was calculated for 1,782 foods in a Norwegian food database. The discriminatory ability of the updated Nutri-Score was considered by exploring the distribution of Nutri-Score within categories of foods using boxplots and frequency tables, and by examining which qualifying and disqualifying components that contributed most to the Nutri-Score class. Accordance with the Norwegian FBDGs was assessed by exploring Nutri-Score for foods specifically mentioned in the guidelines.RESULTS:
Overall, the updated Nutri-Score seemed to discriminate the nutritional quality of foods within categories, in a Norwegian setting. The foods' content of salt and the beverages' content of sugar were components contributing the most to Nutri-Scores' discriminatory ability. Furthermore, in most cases the updated Nutri-Score classified foods in accordance with the Norwegian FBDGs. However, there were minor inconsistencies in how Nutri-Score classified certain foods, such as the inabilities to discriminate between full-fat and low-fat/leaner cheeses, cremes and processed meats (sausages), and between whole grain and refined pasta/rice.CONCLUSIONS:
We observed an overall acceptable discriminatory performance of the updated Nutri-Score in a Norwegian setting and in most cases the updated Nutri-Score classified foods in accordance with the Norwegian FBDGs. However, minor inconsistencies were observed. Together with the FBDGs, the updated Nutri-Score could be a useful tool in guiding consumers towards healthier food choices in Norway, but consumer evaluations are warranted to fully assess the performance of the updated Nutri-Score in a Norwegian context.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Etiquetado de Alimentos
/
Preferencias Alimentarias
/
Valor Nutritivo
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act
Año:
2023
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Noruega