The Potential Effectiveness of Nutrient Declarations and Nutrition and Health Claims for Improving Population Diets.

Nutrition labeling supports healthier diets by aiding purchase decisions and stimulating reformulation. This systematic literature review applied Cochrane methods to synthesize and appraise evidence on the effectiveness of nutrient declarations and nutrition and health claims on diet-related outcomes. The search spanned 11 academic databases, from inception to July 2022. Evidence was synthesized using GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) and vote counting. Data were available from 170 studies. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) suggest that nutrient declarations likely improved consumer understanding of the nutritional quality/content of foods (moderate certainty) and may have improved the healthfulness of choices (low certainty) versus no label. RCT evidence also suggests that claims likely increased consumer perceptions of food healthfulness and increased choice and purchases of labeled foods (both moderate certainty), irrespective of nutritional quality. To improve label understanding and avoid misinterpretation, nutrient declarations may incorporate interpretive elements and claims can apply disqualifying conditions for their usage, on the basis of overall nutritional quality.

The Potential Effectiveness of Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labeling for Improving Population Diets.

Nutrition labeling on the front of food packages can support more healthful purchase decisions and encourage favorable reformulation. This systematic literature review applied Cochrane methods to synthesize and appraise the evidence on the effectiveness of front-of-pack labeling (FOPL) on diet-related outcomes and food reformulation to inform policy recommendations. The search was conducted on 11 academic and gray literature databases, from inception to July 2022. Evidence was synthesized using GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation), vote counting, and meta-analyses, where appropriate. Overall, 221 articles were included in the review. The randomized controlled trial evidence suggested that, compared with when no FOPL was present, FOPL likely improved consumer understanding of the nutritional quality/content of foods (moderate certainty of evidence), and the healthfulness of food choices (moderate certainty) and purchases (moderate certainty). Interpretive FOPL had a greater effect on these outcomes compared with noninterpretive systems (moderate certainty). There was inconsistency in the best-performing interpretive FOPL system.

Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption and Height Loss in Adults: A Longitudinal Analysis in the EPIC-Norfolk Study.

BACKGROUND: Height loss in aging has been recognized to reflect a decline in musculoskeletal health but not investigated in relation to dietary factors, such as sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), the consumption of which may deteriorate musculoskeletal health. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the longitudinal association of habitual consumption of total SSBs and its subtypes with height loss and examine effect-modification by age, sex, and anthropometry. METHODS: We evaluated 16,230 adults aged 40-79 y in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Norfolk cohort. At baseline (1993-1997), SSB consumption (soft drinks, squashes, sweetened milk beverages, sweetened coffee/tea, and sweetened alcoholic beverages) was assessed using 7-d food diaries. Height was objectively measured at the baseline, second (1997-2000), and third (2004-2011) health checks. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine baseline SSB consumption and the rate of height change over the follow-up. RESULTS: The median (IQR) height change was -1.07 (-2.09 to -0.28) cm/10 y. Adjusted for potential confounders including behavioral factors, medications, and baseline body mass index (BMI), total SSB consumption was associated with height loss (ß: -0.024; 95% CI: -0.046, -0.001 cm/10 y per 250 g/d of SSB), and similar results were seen for the individual beverages, except for sweetened milk beverages (ß: +0.07; 95% CI: -0.16, 0.30), with wide CIs. No effect-modification by prespecified factors was evident, except for baseline BMI (P-interaction = 0.037). Total SSB consumption was associated with height loss (-0.038; 95% CI: -0.073, -0.004) in participants with BMI ≤ 25 kg/m2 but not apparently in those with BMI > 25 kg/m2. CONCLUSIONS: SSB consumption was modestly associated with height loss, particularly in adults with normal weight status.

Multidisciplinary advances in kombucha fermentation, health efficacy, and market evolution.

Kombucha, a fermented tea beverage, has seen a significant rise in global popularity. This increase is attributed to its reported health benefits and extensive cultural heritage. The comprehensive review examines kombucha through microbiology, biochemistry, and health sciences, highlighting its therapeutic potential and commercial viability. Central to kombucha production is the symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts (SCOBY), which regulates a complex fermentation process, resulting in a bioactive-rich elixir. The study examines the microbial dynamics of SCOBY, emphasizing the roles of various microorganisms. It focuses the contributions of acetic acid bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, and osmophilic yeasts, including genera such as Saccharomyces, Schizosaccharomyces, Zygosaccharomyces, Brettanomyces/Dekkera, and Pichia. These microorganisms play crucial roles in producing bioactive compounds, including organic acids, polyphenols, and vitamins. These bioactive compounds confer therapeutic properties to kombucha. These properties include antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, cancer prevention, hepatoprotective, and detoxifying effects. The review also explores the growing market for kombucha, driven by consumer demand for functional beverages and opportunities for innovative product development. It emphasizes the necessity of standardized production to ensure safety and validate health claims. Identifying research gaps, the review highlights the importance of clinical trials to verify therapeutic benefits. Ultimately, this study integrates traditional knowledge with scientific research, providing directions for future studies and commercial expansion, emphasizing the role of kombucha in health and wellness.

Evaluating the impact of sugar-sweetened beverages tax on overweight, obesity, and type 2 diabetes in an affluent Asian setting: A willingness-to-pay survey and simulation analysis.

BACKGROUND: The potential health effects of taxing sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) has been insufficiently examined in Asian contexts. This study aimed to assess the impact of SSB taxation on the prevalence of obesity/overweight and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Hong Kong using a willingness-to-pay (WTP) survey and simulation analysis. METHODS: A random telephone survey was conducted with 1000 adults from May to June 2020. We used a contingent valuation approach to assess individuals' WTP for SSBs under four tax payment scenarios (5%, 10%, 40%, and 50% of the current market price). Based on the WTP, a simulation analysis was conducted to project changes in SSB purchase and associated reductions in the prevalence of obesity/overweight and T2DM over a 10-year simulation period. FINDINGS: When 5% and 10% taxation rates were introduced, approximately one-third of the population were unwilling to maintain their SSB purchase. Our simulation demonstrated a gradual decline in the prevalence of obesity/overweight and diabetes with a more pronounced decrease when higher taxation rates were introduced. 10% taxation resulted in a mean reduction of 1532.7 cases of overweight/obesity per 100 thousand population at the sixth year, while T2DM prevalence decreased by 267.1 (0.3%). CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the effects of an SSB tax on purchase behaviors and health outcomes in an affluent Asia setting, with a more pronounced influence on adult population. These findings are expected to inform policymakers in making decisions regarding an effective and equitable tax rate on SSBs.

The Beverage Quality Index and risk of cardiometabolic outcomes after a myocardial infarction: A prospective analysis in the Alpha Omega Cohort.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Individual beverages have varying associations with cardiometabolic outcomes, but little is known about overall beverage quality and cardiometabolic risk after myocardial infarction (MI). We created the Beverage Quality Index (BQI) to assess beverage quality and examined its association with cardiometabolic outcomes after MI. METHODS AND RESULTS: We included 4365 Dutch post-MI patients from the Alpha Omega Cohort, aged 60-80 years. Diet was assessed at baseline (2002-2006) with a 203-item FFQ. The BQI included eight components (coffee, tea, milk, juices, sugar-sweetened beverages, alcohol, added sugar to coffee and tea, and energy from beverages), and ranged from 0 to 80. Multivariable Cox models were used to estimate HRs for the BQI in relation to incident diabetes mellitus (DM), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), recurrent cardiovascular disease (CVD) and fatal CVD over 3.4 y of follow-up, with follow-up for fatal CVD extended through 2018 (12.4 y). The average BQI was 50.0 ± 12.5. During 3.4 y of follow-up, we identified 186 incident cases of DM, 601 of MACE, 310 of recurrent CVD and 140 of fatal CVD. In multivariable models, a higher BQI (T3 vs. T1) was associated with lower risk of MACE [HR: 0.73 (0.59-0.90)], and recurrent CVD [HR: 0.67 (0.50-0.91)], but not with DM or CVD mortality. After 12.4 y of follow-up, 903 CVD deaths occurred. A significant inverse association with CVD mortality during long-term follow-up was found [HR: 0.81 (0.68-0.96)]. CONCLUSION: Overall beverage intake quality, as assessed by the BQI, may represent an important target for the prevention of recurrent CVD.

Characterization and stabilization of GluLm and its application to deglycosylate dietary flavonoids and lignans.

This study describes the characterization of the recombinant GH3 aryl-ß-glucosidase "GluLm" from Limosilactobacillus mucosae INIA P508, followed by its immobilization on an agarose support with the aim of developing an efficient application to increase the availability and concentration of flavonoid and lignan aglycones in a vegetal beverage. In previous studies, heterologous GluLm-producing strains demonstrated a great capacity to deglycosylate flavonoids. Nevertheless, the physicochemical properties and substrate spectrum of the enzyme remained unknown up to now. A high production of purified GluLm was achieved (14 mg L-1). GluLm exhibited optimal activity at broad ranges of pH (5.0-8.0) and temperature (25-60°C), as well as high affinity (Km of 0.10 mmol L-1) and specific constant (86554.0 mmol L-1 s-1) against p-nitrophenyl-ß-D-glucopyranoside. Similar to other GH3 ß-glucosidases described in lactic acid bacteria, GluLm exhibited ß-xylosidase, ß-galactosidase, and ß-fucosidase activities. However, this study has revealed for the first time that a GH3 ß-glucosidase is capable to hydrolyze different families of glycosylated phenolics such as flavonoids and secoiridoids. Although it exhibited low thermal stability, immobilization of GluLm improved its thermostability and allowed the development of a beverage based on soybeans and flaxseed extract with high concentration of bioactive isoflavone (daidzein, genistein), lignan (secoisolariciresinol, pinoresinol, and matairesinol), and other flavonoid aglycones. KEY POINTS: • Limosilactobacillus mucosae INIA P508 GluLm was purified and biochemically characterized • Immobilized GluLm efficiently deglycosylated flavonoids and lignans from a vegetal beverage • A viable application to produce vegetal beverages with a high content of aglycones is described.

Effects of the active botanical blend "WKUP GT" on attention and cognitive functions after lunch in healthy volunteers.

OBJECTIVES: "WKUP GT", a low caffeine beverage consisting of carob, Guarana, Green Tea and Elderberry extracts was studied on attention and cognitive functions post-lunch in a pilot randomized double blind placebo controlled trial. METHODS: Thirty healthy volunteers were included in a crossover design trial, presenting five beverages randomly assigned to the following groups: placebo, "WKUP GT" (single, double or triple doses), or "caffeine" as an active control. Hemodynamic measurements were assessed as safety outcomes. The Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), was used to evaluate the patients when beverages were consumed 30 and 120 min after lunch (respectively Delta30 and Delta120 considering baseline). RESULTS: Drinking "caffeine" or "WKUP GT" after lunch, showed significant improvement (p < 0.05) in rapid visual information processing compared to placebo (Delta120 of "caffeine", "WKUP" single and double). In addition, improvement in Multitasking Test (Delta30 for "WKUP" double, and Delta120 for "caffeine" and "WKUP" triple compared to placebo) was observed. "WKUP" triple also showed significant improvement for "memory" when compared to placebo (Delta120). Compared to "caffeine", WKUP GT did not increase systolic blood pressure. CONCLUSION: "WKUP GT" showed improvements for attention, memory, psychomotor and executive function tasks after lunch without increase in pulse rate.

Artificially sweetened beverage consumption and all-cause and cause-specific mortality: an updated systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.

BACKGROUND: Artificially sweetened beverages (ASB) are consumed globally, but their impact on overall health remains uncertain. We summarized published associations between ASB intake with all-cause and cause-specific mortality. METHODS: We searched Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases until August 2023. Random effect meta-analysis was conducted to calculate pooled risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) for highest versus lowest categories of ASB consumption in relation to all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Linear and non-linear dose-response analyses were also performed. RESULTS: Our systematic review and meta-analysis included 11 prospective cohort studies. During a median/mean follow-up period of 7.0 to 28.9 years, 235,609 deaths occurred among 2,196,503 participants. Intake of ASB was associated with higher risk of all-cause and CVD mortality with pooled RRs (95%CIs) of highest vs. lowest intake categories of 1.13 (1.06, 1.21) (I2 = 66.3%) for all-cause mortality and 1.26 (1.10, 1.44) (I2 = 52.0%) for CVD mortality. Dose-response analysis revealed a non-linear association of ASB with all-cause mortality (pnon-linearity = 0.01), but a linear positive association with CVD mortality (pnon-linearity = 0.54). No significant association was observed for ASB intake and cancer mortality. Moreover, a secondary meta-analysis demonstrated that replacing 1 serving/day of sugary sweetened beverages (SSB) with ASB was associated with 4-6% lower risk of all-cause and CVD mortality. Per NutriGrade, the evidence quality for associations between ASB intake with all-cause and CVD mortality was moderate. CONCLUSIONS: Higher intake of ASB was associated with higher risk of all-cause and CVD mortality, albeit a lower risk than for SSB. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration no. CRD42022365701.

Non-beverage alcohol consumption in Russia: new evidence from Jewish Autonomous Oblast.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies in Izhevsk, Novosibirsk, and Kazan have found that non-beverage alcohol is a large part of alcohol consumption in Russia. Whereas those places are relatively high-income cities, there are no studies about such a problem in low-income regions of Russia. The aim of this study is to investigate correlates and factors associated with non-beverage alcohol consumption in eastern regions of Russia, e.g. the Jewish Autonomous Oblast and to assess effectiveness of implementing Russian policies to restrict consumption of non-beverage alcohol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey of adults in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast of Russia was performed on workdays to assess non-beverage drinking patterns in summer 2022. The questionnaire included questions about socio-demographic status and alcohol use, including non-beverage alcohol consumption and drinking patterns. We use logistic regression to identify risk factors of consuming non-beverages. RESULTS: First, ~30% of individuals suffering from alcohol problems drink non-beverage alcohol. Second, those who regularly consume non-beverage alcohol compared with those who chronically drink legal strong alcohol are on average more likely to experience the negative effects of alcohol consumption. Third, income and marriage are the main factors negatively associated with surrogate alcohol consumption. Besides, age shows a curvilinear relationship with that. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that a modified anti-surrogate policy to increase the minimum price of pharmacy alcohol and to enforce restrictions on the sale of non-beverage alcohol is needed in Russia. Such measures could prevent an increase in non-beverage alcohol consumption in Russia against the backdrop of declining real incomes of the population.

A comparative analysis of unhealthy food and beverage television advertising to children in Thailand, between 2014 and 2022.

BACKGROUND: Food marketing is a key factor that influences children's dietary behaviors. This study assessed the nature and extent of food and beverage advertising on television (TV) in 2014 and 2022 in Thailand. METHODS: TV was recorded for one week in March 2014 and in May 2022 from 7-9am and 3-7 pm on weekends, and 3-7 pm on weekdays across two channels (64 h recorded each year). The nutrient profile model from Bureau of Nutrition, Ministry of Public Health Thailand was used to classify food and non-alcoholic beverages as: Group A ('healthy'), Group B ('less unhealthy') or Group C ('unhealthy'). RESULTS: In 2014, 475 food advertisements were identified, with on average of 6.3 unhealthy food advertisements per hour. In 2022, 659 food advertisements were identified, with an average of 9.2 unhealthy food advertisement per hour. In both time periods, the most frequently advertised food products were non-alcoholic beverages. The rate of unhealthy food advertising per hour of broadcast was significantly higher than for other moderately unhealthy and healthy foods, and was also significantly higher in 2022 than in 2014. CONCLUSIONS: Food and beverage advertising on Thai television is predominantly promotes unhealthy foods and, in particular, sugar-sweetened beverages. Therefore, Thai Government should enact new legislation to protect children from food TV ads in order to control both the frequency and nature of unhealthy TV food marketing to protect the health of Thai children.

Addressing nutritional issues and eating behaviours among university students: a narrative review.

University life is a critical period for establishing healthy eating habits and attitudes. However, university students are at risk of developing poor eating habits due to various factors, including economic conditions, academic stress and lack of information about nutritional concepts. Poor diet quality leads to malnutrition or overnutrition, increasing the risk of preventable diseases. Food environments on university campuses also play a significant role in shaping the dietary habits of students, with the availability of and accessibility to healthy food options being important factors influencing food choices and overall diet quality. Disordered eating habits and body dissatisfaction are prevalent among university students and can lead to eating disorders. Income and living arrangements also influence dietary habits, with low household income and living alone being associated with unhealthy eating habits. This study is a narrative review that aimed to address nutritional issues and eating behaviours, specifically among university students. We investigated the eating behaviours of university students, including their dietary patterns, food choices and food environments. The objective of this review was to provide insights into the nutritional issues and eating behaviours of university students, with the aim of identifying target areas for intervention to improve the overall health and wellbeing among college students. University food environments need to be restructured to promote healthy eating, including the availability, accessibility, affordability and labelling of healthy foods, and policies to limit the availability of unhealthy foods and drinks on campus.

Determination of organic acids for predicting sourness intensity of tea beverage by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and chemometrics methods.

The contents of organic acids (OAs) in tea beverage and their relationship with taste intensity have not been fully understood. In this work, a rapid (10 min for a single run) and sensitive (limits of quantification: 0.0044-0.4486 µg/mL) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of 17 OAs in four types of tea, based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with multiple reaction monitoring mode. The contents of 17 OAs in 96 tea samples were measured at levels between 0.01 and 11.80 g/kg (dried weight). Quinic acid, citric acid, and malic acid were determined as the major OAs in green, black, and raw pu-erh teas, while oxalic acid and tartaric acid exhibited the highest contents in ripe pu-erh tea. Taking the OAs composition as input features, a partial least squares regression model was proposed to predict the sourness intensity of tea beverages. The model achieved a root-mean-square error of 0.58 and a coefficient of determination of 0.84 for the testing set. The proposed model provides a theoretical way to evaluate the sensory quality of tea infusion based on its chemical composition.

The effects of health-related food taxes on the environmental impact of consumer food purchases: secondary analysis of data from a randomised controlled trial in a virtual supermarket.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the effects of health-related food taxes on the environmental impact of consumer food purchases in a virtual supermarket. DESIGN: This is a secondary analysis of data from a randomised controlled trial in which participants were randomly assigned to a control condition with regular food prices (n 152), an experimental condition with a sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax (n 131) or an experimental condition with a nutrient profiling tax based on Nutri-Score (n 112). Participants were instructed to undertake their typical weekly grocery shopping for their households. Primary outcome measures were three environmental impact indicators: greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, land use and blue water use per household per week. Data were analysed using linear regression analyses. SETTING: Three-dimensional virtual supermarket. PARTICIPANTS: Dutch adults (≥ 18 years) who were responsible for grocery shopping in their household (n 395). RESULTS: GHG emissions (-7·6 kg CO2-eq; 95 % CI -12·7, -2·5) and land use (-3·9 m2/year; 95 % CI -7·7, -0·2) were lower for the food purchases of participants in the nutrient profiling tax condition than for those in the control condition. Blue water use was not affected by the nutrient profiling tax. Moreover, the SSB tax had no significant effect on any of the environmental impact indicators. CONCLUSIONS: A nutrient profiling tax based on Nutri-Score reduced the environmental impact of consumer food purchases. An SSB tax did not affect the environmental impact in this study.

Effects of traffic light labelling and increased healthy range on beverage choices from vending machines.

OBJECTIVE: To test whether traffic light labels and an increased range of healthy beverages, individually and in combination, can increase healthy beverage choices from vending machines. DESIGN: Two studies (n 558, 420) tested whether the provision of traffic light labels (green, amber and red) and an increased range of healthy beverages (from 20 % to 50 % green options), individually and in combination, could increase healthy beverage choices from a digital vending machine display. The studies used a between-subjects experimental design, and a hypothetical beverage choice, a limitation when considering real-world applicability. SETTING: Both studies utilised an online Qualtrics survey that featured a digital vending machine display. PARTICIPANTS: Both studies (n 558, 420) consisted of university students from Flinders University and individuals from a survey recruitment service. RESULTS: Featuring traffic lights did not significantly influence beverage choices (P = 0·074), while increasing the healthy range (P = 0·003, OR = 3·27), and the combination of both, did significantly increase healthier beverage choices (P < 0·001, OR = 4·83). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the traffic light system and increased healthy range are not maximally effective when used on their own, and benefit greatly when combined, to increase healthy beverage choices. It was suggested that the provision of traffic light labels supplied the necessary nutritional information, and the increased healthy range offered greater opportunity to act in accordance with that information. In so doing, the present findings offer a promising pathway for reducing unhealthy beverage consumption.

Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages before 2 Years of Age and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

INTRODUCTION: This study examined the association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption before the first 24 months of life and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: A population administrative cohort study was conducted in Korea (2008-2019) using linked national insurance data and a health screening survey. The cohort included 25,305 children in the exposed group with high sugar-sweetened beverage drinks (≥200 mL) and 339,931 in the reference groups (<200 mL) at 24 months of age. The primary outcome was the development of ADHD based on the International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes. Cox proportional model was used to identify the association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption during early childhood and the later development of ADHD while controlling for multiple risk factors. RESULTS: Over a mean follow-up period of 9.2 years, the incidence rates of ADHD were 29.6 and 23.8 per 10,000 person-years in the exposed and reference groups, respectively. Compared with the reference group, children consuming high-sugar drinks were at an increased risk of ADHD (adjusted hazard ratio 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08-1.27). These associations remained significant even after applying alternative ADHD definitions or adjusting for confounding variables. CONCLUSION: Children who consume sweetened beverages during early childhood are at increased risk of developing ADHD later in life.

The association between healthy beverage index and sarcopenia in Iranian older adults: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is a progressive disease with age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function. No study has investigated the association between healthy beverage index (HBI) and sarcopenia in older adults. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the association between HBI and sarcopenia in Iranian older adults. METHODS: In the present case-control study, 80 sarcopenic and 80 non-sarcopenic participants matched in sex were included. Body composition was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Handgrip strength (HGS), skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), and gait speed were utilized to confirm sarcopenia. Also, a food frequency questionnaire was used to evaluate food intake. HBI score was calculated based on ten sub-components of the total beverages. Moreover, logistic regression was applied to assess the association between HBI and sarcopenia. RESULTS: In the crude model, we observed no significant association between HBI and the odds of sarcopenia. Still, after adjusting the confounders, the odds of developing sarcopenia decreased significantly in the second and last tertiles (T) (T2- odds ratio (OR) = 0.04, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.01-0.25 and T3- OR = 0.10, 95% CI: 0.01-0.60). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicated that HBI is inversely related to the chance of sarcopenia. Therefore, to reduce the odds of sarcopenia, it is recommended to consume healthy drinks such as fruit juices and milk.

Exploring the sugar-sweetened beverage tax (SSBT) pass-through rate in the Irish hospitality sector.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization (WHO) supports the use of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Taxes (SSBTs) as a fiscal lever to help reduce sugar consumption and tackle obesity. Obesity is associated with a range of adverse health outcomes. In response to increasing levels of obesity in Ireland, an SSBT was introduced in 2018. Previous research in Ireland has noted that the pass-through rate of the SSBT in retail (off-site consumption) settings was poor. However, to date, no research has examined the SSBT pass-through rate in hospitality (on-site consumption) venues in Ireland. METHODS: This research examines the SSBT pass-through rate on Coca-Cola versus diet versions of Coca-Cola in a convenience sample of 100 hospitality venues in two provincial Irish cities. RESULTS: Wilcoxon signed rank test analysis revealed that regular Coca-Cola was significantly more expensive compared to the price charged for diet versions of Coca-Cola. However, in 85.6% of cases the same price was charged for both full-sugar and sugar-free drinks. The mean pass-through rate of the SSBT was 33.8%. CONCLUSION: The effective functioning of the SSBT is premised on persistent price differences between soft drink prices based on sugar content. However, this is barely evident in the hospitality sector in Ireland. A number of recommendations are suggested, including both increasing the SSBT, and increasing it annually in line with inflation.

Food and beverage manufacturing and retailing company policies and commitments to improve the healthfulness of Canadian food environments.

BACKGROUND: Food and beverage companies play a central role in shaping the healthfulness of food environments. METHODS: The BIA-Obesity tool was used to evaluate and benchmark the specificity, comprehensiveness and transparency of the food environment-related policies and commitments of leading food and beverage manufacturing and retailing companies in Canada. Policies and commitments related to the healthfulness of food environments within 6 action areas were assessed: 1) corporate nutrition strategy; 2) product (re)formulation; 3) nutrition information and labelling; 4) product and brand promotion; 5) product accessibility; and 6) disclosure of relationships with external organizations. Data were collected from publicly available sources, and companies were invited to supplement and validate information collected by the research team. Each company was then assigned a score out of 100 for each action area, and an overall BIA-Obesity score out of 100. RESULTS: Overall BIA-Obesity scores for manufacturers ranged from 18 to 75 out of 100 (median = 49), while scores for retailers ranged from 21 to 25 (median = 22). Scores were highest within the product (re)formulation (median = 60) followed by the corporate nutrition strategy (median = 59) domain for manufacturers, while retailers performed best within the corporate nutrition strategy (median = 53), followed by the disclosure of relationships with external organizations (median = 47) domain. Companies within both sectors performed worst within the product accessibility domain (medians = 8 and 0 for manufacturers and retailers, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights important limitations to self-regulatory approaches of the food and beverage industry to improve the healthfulness of food environments. Although some companies had specific, comprehensive, and transparent policies and commitments to address the healthfulness of food environments in Canada, most fell short of recommended best-practice. Additional mandatory government policies and regulations may be warranted to effectively transform Canadian food environments to promote healthier diets and prevent related non-communicable diseases.

Fluid and electrolyte balance following consumption of skimmed milk and a plant-based soya beverage at rest in euhydrated males.

PURPOSE: Cow's milk is one of the most hydrating beverages, but many individuals choose not to consume dairy in their diet due to intolerance, allergy, or dietary preference. Milk is commonly replaced with plant-based beverages, including soya which has the most comparable protein content, but little is known about their hydration potential. This study compared fluid and electrolyte balance responses between a soya beverage and skimmed cow's milk. METHODS: Ten healthy males [age 27 (6) y; body mass index 24.6 (2.3) kg/m2] completed two randomised counterbalanced trials, involving consuming 1000 mL water from approximately isocaloric amounts of skimmed cow's milk (MILK) or a sweetened soya beverage (SOYA), in four aliquots over 30 min in a euhydrated fasted state. Volume, specific gravity, and electrolyte (sodium, potassium, chloride) concentrations were determined in total-void urine samples collected pre-/post-beverage ingestion, and hourly for 180 min thereafter. Hunger, thirst, nausea and stomach fullness were rated proximal to urine samples. RESULTS: Total urine mass (MILK, 986 ± 254 g; SOYA, 950 ± 248 g; P = 0.435) and urine specific gravity (P = 0.156) did not differ between trials. Potassium balance was greater in SOYA 0-180 min post-beverage (P ≤ 0.013), whilst chloride balance was greater in MILK 0-120 min post-beverage (P ≤ 0.036). Sodium balance (P = 0.258), total electrolyte balance (P = 0.258), and subjective measures (P ≥ 0.139) were not different between trials. CONCLUSION: Replacing cow's milk with a soya beverage did not negatively impact fluid balance in healthy young males, making it a viable option for those who choose not to consume dairy in their diet.