Fat composition of vegetable oil spreads and margarines in the USA in 2013: a national marketplace analysis.

Worldwide, the fat composition of spreads and margarines ("spreads") has significantly changed over the past decades. Data on fat composition of US spreads are limited and outdated. This paper compares the fat composition of spreads sold in 2013 to that sold in 2002 in the USA. The fat composition of 37 spreads representing >80% of the US market sales volume was determined by standard analytical methods. Sales volume weighted averages were calculated. In 2013, a 14 g serving of spread contained on average 7.1 g fat and 0.2 g trans-fatty acids and provided 22% and 15% of the daily amounts recommended for male adults in North America of omega-3 α-linolenic acid and omega-6 linoleic acid, respectively. Our analysis of the ingredient list on the food label showed that 86% of spreads did not contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (PHVO) in 2013. From 2002 to 2013, based on a 14 g serving, total fat and trans-fatty acid content of spreads decreased on average by 2.2 g and 1.5 g, respectively. In the same period, the overall fat composition improved as reflected by a decrease of solid fat (from 39% to 30% of total-fatty acids), and an increase of unsaturated fat (from 61% to 70% of total-fatty acids). The majority of US spreads no longer contains PHVO and can contribute to meeting dietary recommendations by providing unsaturated fat.

Recommendations on reporting requirements for flavonoids in research.

Numerous observational and intervention-based human studies support the notion of a beneficial role for dietary flavonoids in human health. Despite these studies, it is not yet possible to make dietary recommendations with regard to the types and amounts of flavonoids to be consumed. The inherent diversity of flavonoid structure, chemistry, and natural distribution in foods lends itself to errors in reporting the types and/or amounts of flavonoids consumed, as well as incomplete recognition of requirements for intervention studies that aim to assess their benefits in a clinical setting. A need exists for guidelines that facilitate the design and reporting of flavonoid research. With a focus on clinical studies, this article 1) outlines limitations commonly encountered in the field of flavonoid research, including the inconsistent use of nomenclature, inappropriate analytic methods, inconsistent use of existing flavonoid databases, and the lack of full consideration in the design of test materials for intervention trials, and 2) provides guidance for future studies with a focus on clinical intervention trials. Adoption of this guidance will facilitate more accurate and interpretable research that will support the development of dietary recommendations regarding the intake of flavonoids.

The Smart Choices front-of-package nutrition labeling program: rationale and development of the nutrition criteria.

The goal of the Smart Choices Program (SCP) is to provide a simple front-of-the-package icon system to direct consumers to smarter food choices in the supermarket, which will eventually lead to more balanced diets and to more beneficial foods as food manufacturers renovate products to meet the nutrition criteria for carrying the icon. The SCP was developed by a coalition of scientists and nutrition educators, experts with experience with dietary guidelines, public health organizations, and food manufacturers in response to consumer confusion over multiple front-of-the-package systems based on different criteria. Representatives from different government organizations acted as observers. The process of developing the program was facilitated by the nonprofit Keystone Center, an organization that develops consensus solutions to complex health and social policy changes. The nutrition criteria for receiving the SCP icon are specific for product category by indicating "smarter" products within that category. A calorie indicator noting calories per serving and servings per package accompanies the SCP icon to remind consumers that calories do count, even for smarter food choices. For a product to qualify, it first has to be below the threshold for "nutrients to limit" and then (in most cases) it must be above the threshold for one or more nutrients or food groups to encourage. The criteria are based on the 2005 Dietary Guidelines and other consensus science and are transparent and available on the SCP website. This article describes the nutrition criteria and rationales for their selection.