Food Manufacturers
Take Positive Steps Toward Improving the Nutritional Profile of Packaged Food
Products
April
19th, 2012 | Press Release from Guiding Star
Consumer Demand for Healthier
Options, More Transparent Labeling, and Objective Rating Systems Encourage Both
Branded and Private Label Manufacturers to Cut Back on Sodium, Added Sugars and
Saturated Fat
New
data from the patented nutrition guidance program Guiding Stars® suggests food
manufacturers are responding to consumer demand for healthier choices by making
positive changes to the nutrient content of packaged food products. As a
result, supermarkets are now able to offer a broader selection of products
lower in saturated fat, sodium and added sugars and containing more fiber,
whole grains, vitamins and minerals.
The
formulation improvements come as good news for busy American families who often
find it difficult to put healthier, more nutritious food on the table with the
ease and convenience that pre-packaged foods can provide.
“Both
the national brand manufacturers and private label companies are beginning to
move in a positive direction, improving the nutritional profile of their
products to meet consumer demand,” said Leslie Fischer, PhD, Research Assistant
Professor of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and
a member of the Guiding Stars scientific advisory board. ”As consumers
become more aware of the health benefits of reducing sodium, saturated fat and
added sugar intake—and just how prevalent these ingredients are in many
packaged foods—it is great to see manufacturers and retailers respond by
providing more products that are aligned with current dietary recommendations.”
Fischer
says the changes are the result of several factors. More transparent
labeling regulations now require manufacturers to accurately disclose
ingredients and nutritional content, as well as substantiate claims such as
“whole grain,” “low fat” and others with nutritional data. Efforts by
organizations such as the American Heart Association and others have also
raised awareness among consumers and encouraged manufacturers to reduce sodium
and cut back on other unhealthy ingredients in their recipes.
Meanwhile,
nutrient profiling systems like the Guiding Stars program make it easier for
consumers to make better food choices by clearly identifying more nutritious
foods at a glance, mitigating the need to read and compare every label.
Guiding Stars rates more than 100,000 edible items, ranging from fresh
produce to packaged foods, prepared deli items, and dairy products using a
patented algorithm based on the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans and other
national evidence-based nutrition policy. Each food is clearly marked
with a shelf tag, label, or other grocery store signage that indicates its
nutritional value: one Guiding Star is good, two Guiding Stars is better and
three Guiding Stars is best. Foods that receive no stars do not meet the
program’s rigorous criteria.
Since
the program’s 2006 launch in Hannaford Supermarkets, more than 1,700 stores in
North America have implemented the program and witnessed significant
improvement in the nutritional profile of the foods they offer. During
the first year for the Guiding Stars program at Hannaford, only 17 percent of
that retailer’s private label products earned at least one Guiding Star.
Five years later, after working closely with its private label
manufacturers, Hannaford saw the proportion of its private label foods earning
one or more Guiding Stars increase to 28 percent. This compares favorably
with the 25 percent of overall packaged foods carried by Hannaford—including
national brands—earning one or more Guiding Stars.
Across
the Guiding Stars database of more than 100,000 national and store brand foods,
roughly one-third of all products now earn at least one Guiding Star, compared
to only one-fourth just five years ago. A number of manufacturers have made
significant improvements in the nutritional profile of their products, earning
more Guiding Stars for their efforts, including:
- Dole Pineapple Chunks in 100% Fruit Juice, which went from 0 Guiding Stars to 2 Guiding Stars after changing from “packed in light syrup” to “packed in 100% juice,”
- DelMonte Fresh Cut Sweet Peas increased from 0 to 1 star after reducing both sodium, and added sugars,
- Thomas’ Light Multi-Grain Hearty Muffins went from 2 to 3 stars after removing the added sugars, and increasing calcium,
- Kelloggs Raisin Bran Crunch Cereal changed from 0 to 1 star by reducing the amount of added sugars,
- Hunts Crushed Basil Tomatoes now earns 2 stars instead of 0 since reducing sodium content,
- Ore-Ida Golden Fries French Fried Potatoes changed from 0 to 1 star after reducing the saturated fat content.
While
these are just a few examples of what many manufacturers have done to improve
the nutritional quality of their food products, Fischer says they represent an
overall trend that ultimately benefits both manufacturers and consumers.
“As
consumers become more aware of how nutrients in foods are linked to health and
desire to make more informed food choices accordingly, manufacturers are
developing more nutritious products to match this demand,” Fischer said.
”It’s a win-win for both food producers and consumers that has the
potential to positively impact our nation’s overall health and help reduce the
prevalence of diet-related diseases such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease,
and high blood pressure.”
No comments:
Post a Comment