Dataset Information

Nutrient Dense, Low-Cost Foods Can Improve the Affordability and Quality of the New Zealand Diet-A Substitution Modeling Study.

ABSTRACT: The high prevalence of non-communicable disease in New Zealand (NZ) is driven in part by unhealthy diet selections, with food costs contributing to an increased risk for vulnerable population groups. This study aimed to: (i) identify the nutrient density-to-cost ratio of NZ foods; (ii) model the impact of substituting foods with a lower nutrient density-to-cost ratio with those with a higher nutrient density-to-cost ratio on diet quality and affordability in representative NZ population samples for low and medium socioeconomic status (SES) households by ethnicity; and (iii) evaluate food processing level. Foods were categorized, coded for processing level and discretionary status, analyzed for nutrient density and cost, and ranked by nutrient density-to-cost ratio. The top quartile of nutrient dense, low-cost foods were 56% unprocessed (vegetables, fruit, porridge, pasta, rice, nuts/seeds), 31% ultra-processed (vegetable dishes, fortified bread, breakfast cereals unfortified <15 g sugars/100 g and fortified 15-30 g sugars/100 g), 6% processed (fruit juice), and 6% culinary processed (oils). Using substitution modeling, diet quality improved by 59% and 71% for adults and children, respectively, and affordability increased by 20-24%, depending on ethnicity and SES. The NZ diet can be made healthier and more affordable when nutritious, low-cost foods are selected. Processing levels in the healthier, modeled diet suggest that some non-discretionary ultra-processed foods may provide a valuable source of low-cost nutrition for food insecure populations.

SUBMITTER: Starck CS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8345759 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Nutrient Dense, Low-Cost Foods Can Improve the Affordability and Quality of the New Zealand Diet-A Substitution Modeling Study.

Starck Carlene S CS Blumfield Michelle M Keighley Tim T Marshall Skye S Petocz Peter P Inan-Eroglu Elif E Abbott Kylie K Cassettari Tim T Ali Ajmol A Wham Carol C Kruger Rozanne R Kira Geoff G Fayet-Moore Flavia F

International journal of environmental research and public health 20210727 15

The high prevalence of non-communicable disease in New Zealand (NZ) is driven in part by unhealthy diet selections, with food costs contributing to an increased risk for vulnerable population groups. This study aimed to: (i) identify the nutrient density-to-cost ratio of NZ foods; (ii) model the impact of substituting foods with a lower nutrient density-to-cost ratio with those with a higher nutrient density-to-cost ratio on diet quality and affordability in representative NZ population samples ...[more]

PMID: 34360243

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Project description:Background/Objectives: Efforts are underway worldwide to design and deploy food labeling systems that provide consumers with the information needed to shift dietary patterns toward nutrient dense, healthier foods. Despite a compelling need for progress, worrisome public health trends persist that are rooted in the popularity of unhealthy, heavily processed foods. Methods: The nutrition and health-related content on the packaging of nine common foods sold in the US and Europe is analyzed and compared. The current scope of nutrient-specific messaging is characterized, including messages highlighting health-related benefits stemming from the mix and levels of mostly macronutrients in food products. Results: An average of 6.9 unique nutrition-related messages appear on the packaging of nine US food products, while EU food products contain an average of 5.0. Messaging around the ingredients in food products accounts for the largest share, e.g., "100% whole grain", "Vegan", and "No artificial preservatives". The macronutrients of fat, fiber, cholesterol, salt, sugar, and protein are the focus of most messaging around health benefits. The degree of food processing and essential vitamin, mineral, and phytochemical micronutrients receive little or no attention, despite their importance in positive health outcomes. Conclusions: Current nutrition-related labeling fails to inform consumers of the enormous differences in the contribution of food products in meeting nutritional needs. Existing metrics and rating systems do not effectively account for the critical relationship between nutrient density and caloric content. Existing metrics and systems do not reflect the impacts of processing on food nutritional quality in ways that provide consumers meaningful information. New concepts, metrics, and label elements are described that could promote healthier dietary patterns. Clear and mandatory nutrition labeling could begin shifting market share toward healthier options, and this could trigger and guide changes in manufactured food recipes that make brand-name products healthier, benefiting all consumers.

Dataset Information

Nutrient Dense, Low-Cost Foods Can Improve the Affordability and Quality of the New Zealand Diet-A Substitution Modeling Study.

Publications

Nutrient Dense, Low-Cost Foods Can Improve the Affordability and Quality of the New Zealand Diet-A Substitution Modeling Study.

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