ORCID Profile
0000-0002-2328-1277
Current Organisations
Deakin University
,
Griffith University Griffith Health
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Publications
Use of added sugars in packaged foods sold in Brazil
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 30-08-2018
DOI: 10.1017/S1368980018002148
Abstract: Studies have shown that the consumption of added sugars may be associated with harmful health effects. The present study investigated the presence and types of added sugars in packaged foods. Cross-sectional analysis of the presence and types of added sugars in the ingredients lists of packaged foods sold in a major Brazilian supermarket. The nomenclature of ingredients classified as added sugars and their frequency were identified. Data were organised and analysed through descriptive statistics: absolute and relative frequencies of the presence of added sugars categorised by food groups were calculated, and ingredients were analysed by text mining using R statistical environment. A supermarket in Florianópolis, a metropolis in southern Brazil. Packaged food products ( n 4539) classified into eight groups. Of the 4539 products, 71 % had some type of added sugar. The group with the highest frequency of added sugars was ‘products in which carbohydrates and fats are the main energy source’ (93 %). Food groups containing predominantly salty foods had a high frequency of added sugars, such as ‘meats and eggs’ (61 %). In total, 179 different terms for added sugars were identified, of which sugar, maltodextrin and glucose syrup were the most frequent. Most of the packaged foods sold in Brazil contain added sugars, which may h er adherence to the recommendation of limiting added sugars intake. The data may be useful for monitoring tendencies in the use of added sugars in packaged foods and as supplementary information to support the improvement of food label regulations.
Do Foods Products Labeled “Home-made” Contain Fewer Additives? A Brazilian Survey
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 18-08-2020
Added sugars: Definitions, classifications, metabolism and health implications
Publisher: FapUNIFESP (SciELO)
Date: 10-2017
DOI: 10.1590/1678-98652017000500011
Abstract: ABSTRACT The sugars added to foods have been featured in recent scientific research, including the publication of the World Health Organization recommendation to limit consumption of added sugars, based on studies on weight gain and dental caries. However, it is possible that there is evidence of an association between excessive consumption and other pathologies, but scientific studies have yet to investigate these associations. Moreover, there is no consensus on the descriptions and definitions of these sugars, with several terms and components used to designate them. In Brazil, there are few studies investigating added sugars, identifying a lack of discussion on this subject. This paper presents a literature review of sugars added to foods, from their definitions and classifications to the metabolism and health effects. The search was performed without limiting dates in the following databases: Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed and SciELO, as well as in national and international official sites. Keywords in Portuguese and English related to sugars added to foods were used, in combination with terms related to systematic review and meta-analysis studies, in order to find research linking added sugars consumption with health damage. The literature indicates that there is a relationship between excessive consumption of added sugars and various health outcomes, including weight gain, type 2 diabetes Mellitus, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. The different descriptions of sugars in foods may confuse both food consumers and researchers, since each term includes different components. Thus, it is suggested to use the standardized term “added sugar” as the most suitable term for the broader population to understand, because it indicates that those sugars are not natural food components.
An examination of public support for 35 nutrition interventions across seven countries
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 27-09-2023
DOI: 10.1038/S41430-022-01211-5
Abstract: Public support for evidence-based nutrition interventions can be an important determinant of government willingness to develop and implement such interventions. The aim of this study was to assess support for a broad range of nutrition interventions across seven countries: Australia, Canada, China, India, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Assessed interventions included those relating to food availability, affordability, reformulation, labelling, and promotion. Approximately 1000 adults per country (total n = 7559) completed an online survey assessing support for 35 nutrition interventions olicies. ANOVA analyses were used to identify differences between countries on overall levels of support and by intervention category. Multiple regression analyses assessed demographic and diet-related factors associated with higher levels of support across the total s le and by country. Substantial levels of public support were found for the assessed interventions across the seven countries and five intervention categories. The highest levels were found in India (Mean across all interventions of 4.16 (standard deviation (SD) 0.65) on a 5-point scale) and the lowest in the United States (Mean = 3.48, SD = 0.83). Support was strongest for interventions involving food labelling (Mean = 4.20, SD = 0.79) and food reformulation (Mean = 4.17, SD = 0.87), and weakest for fiscal interventions (Mean = 3.52, SD = 1.06). Consumer characteristics associated with stronger support were higher self-rated health, higher educational attainment, female sex, older age, and perceptions of consuming a healthy diet. The results indicate substantial support for a large range of nutrition interventions across the assessed countries, and hence governments could potentially be more proactive in developing and implementing such initiatives.
The adaptation, validation, and application of a methodology for estimating the added sugar content of packaged food products when total and added sugar labels are not mandatory
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2021
Influence of sugar label formats on consumer understanding and amount of sugar in food choices: a systematic review and meta-analyses
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 13-12-2020
Abstract: Reducing population intakes of sugar has become a focus of many national and international public health policies. Packaged foods and beverages are key contributors to sugar intakes, and food labels can be an effective tool to reduce sugar consumption. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the influence of sugar label formats on 2 outcomes: consumers’ understanding of sugar information, and the amount of sugar in consumers’ food choices. Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, CAB Abstracts, SciELO, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched up until February 4, 2020. Randomized experiments or quasi-experiments were included if they investigated the influence of sugar label formats on consumers’ understanding of sugar information or on the amount of sugar in consumers’ food choices. Data were extracted independently by 2 authors. Mean differences (MDs), standardized mean differences (SMDs), and odds ratios (ORs) plus 95%CIs were used to describe between-group differences for intervention label formats using random-effects models. Twenty-three studies, which examined 39 comparisons, were included. Label formats using “high in sugar” interpretative texts (traffic light labels [MD 41.6 95%CI 37.9–45.4] and warning signs [OR 1.33 95%CI 1.0–1.78]) were most effective in increasing consumers’ understanding of the sugar content in packaged foods. Health warning messages (SMD −0.32 95%CI −0.43 to −0.22), graphical depictions of sugar content in teaspoons (SMD −0.32 95%CI −0.48 to −0.17), and warning signs (SMD −0.24 95%CI −0.35 to −0.13) were most effective for influencing consumers to choose products with lower sugar content. Formats that provide an interpretation of sugar information, particularly those indicating if a product is high in sugar, were more helpful than only numerical information for improving consumer understanding and promoting food choices with less sugar. PROSPERO registration number CRD42018081222.
An Innovative Machine Learning Approach to Predict the Dietary Fiber Content of Packaged Foods
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 14-09-2021
DOI: 10.3390/NU13093195
Abstract: Underconsumption of dietary fiber is prevalent worldwide and is associated with multiple adverse health conditions. Despite the importance of fiber, the labeling of fiber content on packaged foods and beverages is voluntary in most countries, making it challenging for consumers and policy makers to monitor fiber consumption. Here, we developed a machine learning approach for automated and systematic prediction of fiber content using nutrient information commonly available on packaged products. An Australian packaged food dataset with known fiber content information was ided into training (n = 8986) and test datasets (n = 2455). Utilization of a k-nearest neighbors machine learning algorithm explained a greater proportion of variance in fiber content than an existing manual fiber prediction approach (R2 = 0.84 vs. R2 = 0.68). Our findings highlight the opportunity to use machine learning to efficiently predict the fiber content of packaged products on a large scale.
Serving Size and Nutrition Labelling: Implications for Nutrition Information and Nutrition Claims on Packaged Foods
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 12-07-2018
DOI: 10.3390/NU10070891
Abstract: The presentation of nutrition information on a serving size basis is a strategy that has been adopted by several countries to promote healthy eating. Variation in serving size, however, can alter the nutritional values reported on food labels and compromise the food choices made by the population. This narrative review aimed to discuss (1) current nutrition labelling legislation regarding serving size and (2) the implications of declared serving size for nutrition information available on packaged foods. Most countries with mandatory food labelling require that serving size be presented on food labels, but variation in this information is generally allowed. Studies have reported a lack of standardisation among serving sizes of similar products which may compromise the usability of nutrition information. Moreover, studies indicate that food companies may be varying serving sizes as a marketing strategy to stimulate sales by reporting lower values of certain nutrients or lower energy values on nutrition information labels. There is a need to define the best format for presenting serving size on food labels in order to provide clear and easily comprehensible nutrition information to the consumer.
Where are the low-calorie sweeteners? An analysis of the presence and types of low-calorie sweeteners in packaged foods sold in Brazil from food labelling
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 26-10-2017
DOI: 10.1017/S136898001700283X
Abstract: Studies have shown that consumption of low-calorie sweeteners (LCS) may be associated with harmful health effects. The current study investigated the presence and types of LCS added to packaged foods. Cross-sectional study analysing the presence and types of LCS in the ingredients lists of packaged foods sold at a major Brazilian supermarket. To identify types of LCS allowed for use in foods in Brazil, current legislation was consulted. Data were organised and analysed through descriptive statistics, presenting simple and relative frequencies of LCS presence categorised by food group. Supermarket in Florianópolis, southern Brazil. Packaged food products ( n 4539) from eight food groups. One or more LCS were found in 602 (13·3 %) of the packaged foods analysed. There were 1329 citations of LCS among these foods, with a mean of 2·2 sweeteners per food. Groups with the highest frequency of foods containing LCS were: products with energy derived from carbohydrates and fats (25·0 %) milk and dairy products (11·7 %) bakery products, cereals, legumes, roots and tubers (11·2 %) and fruits, juices, nectars and fruit drinks (8·3 %). There was high prevalence of packaged foods with LCS, especially in food groups that form the basis of the Brazilian diet. The study was the first to extensively analyse the presence and types of LCS in packaged foods available for sale in a Brazilian supermarket and can be useful to monitor the use of LCS in these foods, as well as to support future changes in legislation to label sugars.
Influência infantil nas compras de alimentos ultraprocessados: interferência do estado nutricional
Publisher: Centro Universitario Sao Camilo - Sao Paulo
Date: 30-09-2015
Related Organisations
Related Funding Activities
No related grants have been discovered for Tailane Scapin.