Evaluation of the Accurateness of the Nutritional Labels of Processed and Ultra-Processed Products Available in Supermarkets of Ecuador
Nutrition labeling is a public health tool that allows consumers to choose healthier foods and beverages. For this reason, there are protocols in place to monitor the food environment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the consistency of nutrition labeling on packages for processed and ultra...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/11/3481 |
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| author | Diana Morales-Avilez Carlos Cruz-Casarrubias Lizbeth Tolentino-Mayo Lorena Encalada-Torres Victoria Abril-Ulloa |
| author_facet | Diana Morales-Avilez Carlos Cruz-Casarrubias Lizbeth Tolentino-Mayo Lorena Encalada-Torres Victoria Abril-Ulloa |
| author_sort | Diana Morales-Avilez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nutrition labeling is a public health tool that allows consumers to choose healthier foods and beverages. For this reason, there are protocols in place to monitor the food environment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the consistency of nutrition labeling on packages for processed and ultra-processed products (UPPs) found at the main supermarkets in Cuenca, Ecuador. We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study in which we identified label components on the packages of 1725 foods and beverages—including the nutrition table, statement on sweeteners, ingredient list, and the traffic light (TL) label—and determined the degree of consistency between the indicators reported on the traffic light label and those obtained from the information in the nutrition table. We found that 24% of products had inconsistencies in the traffic light label, and 10.9% of products had inconsistencies in the indicator for sugar specifically. The majority of inconsistencies were in the medium indicators for sugar (<i>K</i> = 0.68) and fat (0.75). The products with a medium indicator for sugar had a 1.98 (<i>p</i> < 0.05, 95% CI 1.15, 3.39) times higher chance of having inconsistencies in comparison with the low indicator. Health authorities must create new guidelines to allow for continued monitoring of the nutrition and traffic light labels on products accessible to consumers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:53:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cec5eaf309554de1b82c4ef4e21a6261 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:53:14Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-cec5eaf309554de1b82c4ef4e21a62612023-11-20T20:48:57ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432020-11-011211348110.3390/nu12113481Evaluation of the Accurateness of the Nutritional Labels of Processed and Ultra-Processed Products Available in Supermarkets of EcuadorDiana Morales-Avilez0Carlos Cruz-Casarrubias1Lizbeth Tolentino-Mayo2Lorena Encalada-Torres3Victoria Abril-Ulloa4Research Group Public Health, Food and Physical Activity in the Life Cycle, Medical Sciences Faculty, University of Cuenca, Av. 12 abril. Campus Paraíso, Cuenca 010104, EcuadorCenter for Health and Nutrition Research, Mexican National Institute of Public Health Av. Universidad 655, Santa María Ahuacatitlán, 62100 Cuernavaca, Morelos, MexicoCenter for Health and Nutrition Research, Mexican National Institute of Public Health Av. Universidad 655, Santa María Ahuacatitlán, 62100 Cuernavaca, Morelos, MexicoResearch Group Public Health, Food and Physical Activity in the Life Cycle, Medical Sciences Faculty, University of Cuenca, Av. 12 abril. Campus Paraíso, Cuenca 010104, EcuadorResearch Group Public Health, Food and Physical Activity in the Life Cycle, Medical Sciences Faculty, University of Cuenca, Av. 12 abril. Campus Paraíso, Cuenca 010104, EcuadorNutrition labeling is a public health tool that allows consumers to choose healthier foods and beverages. For this reason, there are protocols in place to monitor the food environment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the consistency of nutrition labeling on packages for processed and ultra-processed products (UPPs) found at the main supermarkets in Cuenca, Ecuador. We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study in which we identified label components on the packages of 1725 foods and beverages—including the nutrition table, statement on sweeteners, ingredient list, and the traffic light (TL) label—and determined the degree of consistency between the indicators reported on the traffic light label and those obtained from the information in the nutrition table. We found that 24% of products had inconsistencies in the traffic light label, and 10.9% of products had inconsistencies in the indicator for sugar specifically. The majority of inconsistencies were in the medium indicators for sugar (<i>K</i> = 0.68) and fat (0.75). The products with a medium indicator for sugar had a 1.98 (<i>p</i> < 0.05, 95% CI 1.15, 3.39) times higher chance of having inconsistencies in comparison with the low indicator. Health authorities must create new guidelines to allow for continued monitoring of the nutrition and traffic light labels on products accessible to consumers.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/11/3481nutrition labeltraffic light labelultra-processed productssweetenersobesity |
| spellingShingle | Diana Morales-Avilez Carlos Cruz-Casarrubias Lizbeth Tolentino-Mayo Lorena Encalada-Torres Victoria Abril-Ulloa Evaluation of the Accurateness of the Nutritional Labels of Processed and Ultra-Processed Products Available in Supermarkets of Ecuador Nutrients nutrition label traffic light label ultra-processed products sweeteners obesity |
| title | Evaluation of the Accurateness of the Nutritional Labels of Processed and Ultra-Processed Products Available in Supermarkets of Ecuador |
| title_full | Evaluation of the Accurateness of the Nutritional Labels of Processed and Ultra-Processed Products Available in Supermarkets of Ecuador |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of the Accurateness of the Nutritional Labels of Processed and Ultra-Processed Products Available in Supermarkets of Ecuador |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of the Accurateness of the Nutritional Labels of Processed and Ultra-Processed Products Available in Supermarkets of Ecuador |
| title_short | Evaluation of the Accurateness of the Nutritional Labels of Processed and Ultra-Processed Products Available in Supermarkets of Ecuador |
| title_sort | evaluation of the accurateness of the nutritional labels of processed and ultra processed products available in supermarkets of ecuador |
| topic | nutrition label traffic light label ultra-processed products sweeteners obesity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/11/3481 |
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