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6 Scientific Basis of Front-of-Package Systems
Pages 59-78

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From page 59...
... The systems have also been based on different approaches to setting nutrient criteria. Among the existing FOP nutrition rating systems and symbols, no two have been developed for exactly the same purposes; similarly, no two have the same underlying nutrient criteria.
From page 60...
... certain nutrients or food groups that are to be encouraged, still others pay attention to limiting some nutrients and to encouraging other nutrients and food groups, and a few also include some combination of additional food components, universal adjustors, and weighting coefficients. Most commonly, the nutrients to limit include some combination of calories, total fat, saturated fat, trans fats, cholesterol, sodium, and total or added sugars.
From page 61...
... The sections that follow describe the strengths and limitations of setting nutrient criteria based on Daily Values and on existing nutrient content claim criteria versus setting criteria based on other forms of dietary guidance or nutrition expertise. Nutrient Criteria Based on Daily Values Nutrient-specific systems and some summary indicator systems in the United States use as their basis FDA and USDA criteria related to nutrition labeling, nutrient content claims, and health claims.
From page 62...
... 1924/2006 Government for green/amber boundaries; UK Traffic Lighte Yes agency COMA and SACN advice for amber/red boundaries Wegmans Wellness FDA regulations for nutrient Retailer Yes Keysf content claims
From page 63...
... Yes FDA %DVs Foods Index experts Proprietary algorithm based upon Dietary Guidelines for Americans Non-industry NuVall No and DRIs, as well as experts established data in scientific literature continued
From page 64...
...  FRONT-OF-PACKAGE NUTRITION RATING SYSTEMS AND SYMBOLS TABLE 6-2 Continued Criteria System Publicly System Icon Program Name Developer Available Basis for Nutrient Criteria Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Kraft Food Yes authoritative statements Sensible Solutionm manufacturer from NAS and FDA Dietary Guidelines Industry and Smart for Americans and non-industry Yes Choicesn authoritative statements consortium from NAS and FDA PepsiCo Food Authoritative statements [Permission not obtained] Yes Smart Spoto manufacturer from FDA and NAS Sweden National Food National Food Government Yes Administration Regulation Administration agency LIVSFS 2005:9 Keyholep Australia/New Industry and Working-group [Permission not obtained]
From page 65...
... Because consumers most likely do not know the nutrient amounts that qualify products for a nutrient content claim, it may not be easy for them to make comparisons and decisions among products with and without an FOP nutrient-specific symbol. Overall, despite some limitations, using nutrient criteria based on regularly updated Daily Values or nutrient amount per Reference Amount Customarily Consumed (RACC)
From page 66...
... Criteria for nutrient content and health claims are based on the Reference Amount Customarily Consumed (RACC) and sometimes also per labeled serving size and/or per 50 g or 100 g.
From page 67...
... food supply or for which there is some doubt about the level of public health concern. Developing Criteria Based on Food Groups or Food Categories Some FOP systems include criteria for a minimum amount of a food group or ingredient that should be encouraged in the diet -- such as fruits, vegetables, low- or non fat dairy products, and whole grains.
From page 68...
... Developing the Same Criteria for All Foods Versus Category-Specific Criteria In developing FOP nutrition rating systems it will be important to consider whether to apply one set of nutri ent criteria across all or most product categories or to develop criteria that are specific to individual food product categories. When one set of criteria is used for all or most foods, federal regulations for nutrition labeling and nutrient content claims often form the basis for the criteria.
From page 69...
... c Value estimated with a number of assumptions for nutrients not on the Nutrition Facts panel. Nutrient Rich Food Index scores generally range from –150 to 300; NuVal scores can range from 1 to 100.
From page 70...
... Distinguishing between added and naturally occurring sugars in food products has traditionally posed an analytical challenge, especially when food products contain multiple sources of sugars. According to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, added sugars are sugars and syrups that are added to foods during processing or preparation or at the table (HHS/USDA, 2005a)
From page 71...
... of 1990 also requires that nutrients be presented in the context of the daily diet; it also specifies that serving sizes should represent "an amount customarily consumed and which is expressed in a common household measure that is appropriate to the food."12 Daily Values The Daily Values comprise Reference Daily Intakes (RDIs) and Daily Reference Values (DRVs)
From page 72...
... In summary, it will be important to consider developing a formalized process that will trigger an automatic reassessment of FOP system nutrient criteria if changes are made in the dietary recommendations or nutrition labeling regulations on which the system is based. Expressing Nutrition Information on Front-of-Package Versus Shelf Tags A final issue associated with developing FOP rating systems that the committee identified was whether to use FOP symbols on shelf tags or on product packaging.
From page 73...
... e However, an algorithm may incorporate parameters such as the glycemic index or weighting factors that are not specific for the product evaluated, and the algorithms for NuVal and Guiding Stars are not publicly available thus precluding compliance monitoring.
From page 74...
... c Nutrient thresholds or algorithms may include nutrients, food components, or weighting factors that are not specific to the product being evaluated and are imputed from food composition databases and literature that may or may not be publicly available. d The algorithms for some systems are not publicly available.
From page 75...
... Highlighting nutrient amounts on the front of the package, putting the amounts into the context of a daily diet as a percent of the Daily Value, and characterizing the amounts as "high," "medium," or "low" can help indi viduals who want to comply with public health guidance or dietary recommendations from a healthcare provider. The approach is consistent with current regulations for declaring nutrient amounts and criteria for nutrient content claims.
From page 76...
... Analytical methods are available for some, but not all, nutrients that make it possible to monitor compliance for those systems whose nutrient thresholds or algorithms are publically available and that are based on nutrients listed in the Nutrition Facts panel. Limitations Similar to the case with systems based on nutrient-specific information, a lack of Daily Values can present challenges for setting nutrient criteria for summary indicator systems if the Daily Values are used as the basis for the criteria.
From page 77...
... To ensure that products actually meet FOP nutrient criteria, the criteria need to be publically available, analyti cal methods need to exist for detecting the nutrients and other components included in the criteria, and products need to be evaluated based on their specific nutrient content and not on values imputed from databases and the literature. In addition, it is important that system developers consider creating a formalized process that would trigger an automatic reassessment of nutrient criteria if changes are made in the dietary recommendations or the nutrition labeling regulations on which the system is based.
From page 78...
... 2005b. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 00.


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