Nutrition is a serious issue and nutrient profiling has come to the fore because it is a way of ranking and classifying our food which helps to prevent disease and promote good health. The World Health Organization (WHO) regards it as a science topic in its own right because it concerns nutritional composition and the impact it has on health.
Introduction To Nutrient Profiling
Over the years, various governments, their regulatory and health institutions, the food industry and public health authorities have devised nutrient profiles for a range of people with differing nutritional needs. These take the form of models which then help and inform governments on a variety of policy applications. They include reformulation of foods to counter nutritional issues, labelling regulations, especially those for the front-of-pack and how to market a food.
The purpose behind nutrient profiling is to confront some age old issues about nutrition. Even though we have many health recommendations from a wide range of reputable health bodies, the death rate and associated level of morbidity is still rising. The leading cause is poor diet. It is a major contributor in the Western world in particular to a variety of disease such as some cancers, heart disease, diabetes – type 2 in particular and obesity.
To counter this rise, a number of public health initiatives were started to help the public decide on what was the best food to consume. One of the most obvious to us all is the nutritional information found on the front of pack labels of virtually all food products.
Front Of Pack Labelling
The purpose behind front-of-pack labelling (FOPL) is to give the consumer the opportunity to make healthy food choice. It is a powerful tool. It has helped shape food reformulation as well as help us understand what we are eating.
In most cases, labelling is a simple, graphical illustration of what is in a food. It’s meant to be so simple that only a glance at the label is necessary. It is found as the primary display panel on all foods and beverages and complements detailed nutrient declarations usually found on the back-of-pack labelling.
One of the main issues of this type of labelling however is whether the consumer has the ability to understand what the label means and of course whether it compels or hinders them in their motivation to make the right choice. Nutritional education of the consumer is key here on whether labelling works or not.
On a global level, most countries have this system of labelling in place.
The UK Nutrient Profiling Model
In April 2007, the UK’s Ofcom which is the media and broadcasting regulator introduced broadcasting restrictions to reduce the exposure of children to television advertising of foods high in fat, salt and sugar. This model was devised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
This model relies on a scoring system to balance the contributions made by beneficial nutrients important in a child’s diet.
The Pan American Health Organization Nutrition Profile Model
Back in 2016 a model was developed called the Pan American Health Organization Nutrient Profile Model (PAHO). This proposed criteria which defined ‘excessive’ levels of salt, sugar, fats etc. in processed foods and beverages.
The model complements one developed in Latin America concerning their traffic lights approach.
The model is a tool that helps policy makers develop rules and regulations to prevent and control excessive weight in people. It has restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages especially to children, has regulations on school food and on the use of front-of-pack labelling.
The model also lays down specifications on foods. These relate to ingredients that are artificial or natural non-caloric or caloric sweeteners. These should be defined as ‘containing other sweeteners’, which need to be limited or avoided.
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