Nutrition Industry & Communications Resources

Roark, E. K., Rehm, C. D., & Sherry, C. L. (2022). Potential for front of pack labeling exposure to impact US dietary choices: A population-based cross-sectional study using NHANES 2017–2018. Nutrients, 14(14), 2995. doi:10.3390/nu14142995

Abstract

In recent years, front-of-pack nutrition labeling (FOPL) schemes have proliferated, but the components of the diet subject to FOPL have not been described. This study quantified the proportion and elements of the diet that would be subject to FOPL in the US. The 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n = 7121; age ≥2 year) 24-h dietary recalls were used to identify foods/beverages subject to FOPL. The proportion of dietary energy and additional dietary constituents subject to FOPL was estimated. Overall, 57% of dietary energy would be subject to FOPL. Individuals consuming more away-from-home meals had lower exposure to FOPL. Adults with a healthy-weight and those consuming a more healthful diet had more exposure to FOPL. Protein, sodium, potassium, whole fruit, vegetables, and unprocessed meats were less subject to FOPL as compared to total sugars, added sugars, calcium, fruit juice, milk, yogurt, nuts/seeds and whole grains. Because less than 60% of the diet would be impacted by FOPL, implementation of such a policy may have limited reach for the US diet and demonstrates some inconsistencies with current dietary guidance regarding the under- and over-representation of key food groups and nutrients.

Rao, E. S., Yadav, R., Rizwana, Lalmuanpuia, C., . . . Meena, P. M. (2022). Impact of nutrition education on whole grains consumption amongst primary and middle school children in Delhi. Food Science and Technology, 10(2), 23 – 33. doi:10.13189/fst.2022.100202

Abstract:

Imparting nutrition education in schools is an effective tool for inculcating healthy eating behavior in early childhood, which will bestow lifelong positive health implications. Ignorance, illiteracy, lack of nutrition knowledge, and inappropriate nutritional practices and dietary traditions influence the nutritional status of children. This study assesses the existing knowledge, attitude, and practices prevalent amongst the school children (6-14 years) in the consumption of whole grains and examines the impact of nutritional intervention on them. 22% of participants were from primary school in the age group of 6-10 years, and 78% were from middle school between the ages of 11-14 years. Total percentage of girl students was 84% against boys, which was 16%. Nutrition education was imparted to the school children through visual presentation on the importance of consuming whole grains, structure and composition of whole grains, difference between refined and whole grains, food sources, nutritional importance, rich sources of dietary and soluble fibre, besides promoting digestive health and wellness. Self-designed fun nutrition games and food quizzes were employed to engage with the school students. In the pre-assessment survey, the middle school students showed significantly (p≤0.05) higher knowledge than primary school students. Although after implementing the nutrition education program in the post-assessment survey, an increase in knowledge about whole grains was observed both in primary as well as middle school students. However, no significant difference was seen in the knowledge acquisition between male and female students in pre or post-nutrition intervention assessment. The present study showed an incremental rise in the knowledge and attitude of primary and secondary school children in the age group of 6-14 years in all aspects of whole-grain education. Therefore, this intervention showed that in order to bridge the gap of nutrition literacy among school-going children, integrating nutrition education into the school curriculum can be an effective tool for inculcating healthy eating behavior in early childhood.

Zachwieja, J., Hentges, E., Hill, J. O., Black, R., & Vassileva, M. (2013). Public-private partnerships: The evolving role of industry funding in nutrition research. Advances in Nutrition, 4(5), 570-572. doi:10.3945/an.113.004382

Abstract:

The global burdens of morbidity and mortality associated with obesity-related chronic diseases are crippling public health and are predicted to exponentially increase over the next 3 decades. Meanwhile, the resources necessary to conduct research that may offer solutions to the obesity epidemic continue to decline and funding has become increasingly difficult to secure. Alternative models for funding nutrition and health research are necessary to make considerable and timely progress to improve public health. Key stakeholders include, but are not limited to, government agencies, foundations, private industry, and nongovernmental organizations.

Alexander, E., Yach, D., & Mensah, G. A. (2011). Major multinational food and beverage companies and informal sector contributions to global food consumption: Implications for nutrition policy. Globalization and Health, 7, 26. doi:10.1186/1744-8603-7-26

Abstract:

Background In recent years, 10 major multinational food and beverage companies have worked together within the International Food and Beverage Alliance (IFBA) to increase their commitments to public health. Current IFBA commitments include initiatives to improve the nutrition quality of products and how these products are advertised to children. The impact and magnitude of IFBA member contributions to the total market share of packaged foods and beverages consumed remain incompletely understood, however. Methods In order to evaluate this impact, we examined packaged food and soft drink company shares provided by Euromonitor, an international independent market analysis company. Packaged foods include baby food, bakery, canned/preserved food, chilled/processed food, confectionery, dairy, dried processed food, frozen processed food, ice cream, meal replacement, noodles, oils and fats, pasta, ready meals, sauces, dressings and condiments, snack bars, soup, spreads, and sweet and savoury snacks. Soft drinks include carbonates, packaged fruit/vegetable juice, bottled water, functional drinks, concentrates, ready-to-drink tea, ready-to-drink coffee and Asian specialty drinks. We calculated the market shares for IFBA companies, globally and within nine countries--the US, China, India, Egypt, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, Turkey and the UK. Results Worldwide, the top ten packaged food companies account for 15.2% of sales, with each individual company contributing less than 3.3%. The top ten soft drink companies account for 52.3% of sales worldwide; Coca-Cola and PepsiCo lead with 25.9% and 11.5% of sales, respectively. Conclusions Although the top ten soft drink companies account for half of global sales, the top ten packaged food companies account for only a small proportion of market share with most individual companies contributing less than 3.3% each. Major multinational companies need to be joined by the myriad of small- and medium-sized enterprises in developing and implementing programs to improve the health of the public, globally. Without full participation of these companies, the impact of commitments made by IFBA members and other major multinational food and beverage companies will remain limited.

Yach, D., Feldman, Z. A., Bradley, D. G., & Khan, M. (2010). Can the food industry help tackle the growing global burden of undernutrition? American Journal of Public Health, 100(6), 974-980. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2009.174359

Abstract:

Hunger and undernutrition remain major threats to global health. The solutions required will be complex and long term and should include stronger private–public collaboration. We identify eight specific actions by food companies that could contribute to reducing hunger worldwide. These include investing in agriculture, especially local smallholders; expanding use of corporations’ core capabilities in distribution and quality control; greater support for fortification of staples and commonly consumed nutritious foods and beverages; expansion of the portfolio of foods currently available for complementary feeding in settings of acute and chronic undernutrition; cocreation of new and innovative social business models to help combat the global burden of undernutrition; investment in the development of nutrition science capacity, especially in developing nations; innovation of product reformulation aimed at developing low-cost nutritious foods for all markets; and committed advocacy by multinational food and beverage corporations for nutrition-friendly trade policies.

Feldman, Z., Bradley, D. G., & Greenberg, D. (2010). The food and beverage industry's efforts regarding obesity prevention. Obesity Epidemiology: From Aetiology to Public Health. Oxford Scholarship Online. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199571512.003.0024

Abstract:

It is well known that obesity affects populations in both developed and developing countries, with significant consequences for public health. What is less understood is the role of the food and beverage industry in reducing the prevalence of obesity and its long-term consequences on individuals and, potentially, society. This chapter addresses the industry's role in obesity prevention by citing examples of industry-led initiatives offering early indicators that the industry can contribute to the effort of global obesity prevention.

Yach, D., Khan, M., Bradley, D., Hargrove, R., . . . Mensah, G. (2010). The role and challenges of the food industry in addressing chronic disease. Globalization and Health, 6, 10. doi:10.1186/1744-8603-6-10

Abstract:

Increasingly, food companies play an important role in stemming the rising burden of nutrition-related chronic diseases. Concrete actions taken by these companies include global public commitments to address food reformulation, consumer information, responsible marketing, promotion of healthy lifestyles, and public-private partnerships. These actions are reviewed together with eleven specific PepsiCo goals and commitments that address products, the marketplace, and communities at large. Interim progress on these goals and commitments are discussed as well as constraints hampering faster progress. Further disease prevention depends on increasing implementation of private-public initiatives.