How does the updated Nutri-Score discriminate and classify the nutritional quality of foods in a Norwegian setting?

The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity · 6 authors, 5 centres

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TL;DR

The updated Nutri-Score was applied to 1,782 foods in a Norwegian food database and showed overall acceptable ability to discriminate nutritional quality within food categories and to classify foods in accordance with Norwegian dietary guidelines.

Full summary

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The study evaluated the updated Nutri-Score (2022 for foods, 2023 for beverages) using a Norwegian food database of 1,782 foods. Discriminatory ability was assessed by examining the distribution of Nutri-Score within food categories and identifying the qualifying and disqualifying components contributing most to scores. Accordance with Norwegian food-based dietary guidelines was evaluated by exploring Nutri-Score assignments for foods specifically mentioned in the guidelines. Results showed that the updated Nutri-Score discriminated nutritional quality within most food categories, with foods containing products in at least three of five Nutri-Score classes in almost all categories. However, minor inconsistencies included inability to discriminate between full-fat and low-fat cheeses and cremes, between processed meat variants, and between whole grain and refined pasta/rice. A key limitation was reliance on a database of mostly generic foods lacking market share data and many brand-specific products.

STUDY TYPE

other

SPECIALTY

nutrition

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ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10563306

How does the updated Nutri-Score discriminate and classify the nutritional quality of foods in a Norwegian setting?

The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

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ABSTRACT

Abstract Background The Nutri-Score is a candidate for the harmonized mandatory front-of-pack nutrition label enabling consumers in the European Union to make healthier food choices. Nutri-Score classifies foods (including beverages) from A (high nutritional quality) to E (low nutritional quality) based on the foods’ qualifying and disqualifying components. We aimed to evaluate the updated Nutri-Score for foods (2022) and beverages (2023) in a Norwegian setting by exploring its ability to discriminate the nutritional quality of foods within categories. Additionally, we assessed Nutri-Scores’ ability to classify foods in accordance with the Norwegian food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs). Methods The updated Nutri-Score was calculated for 1,782 foods in a Norwegian food database. The discriminatory ability of the updated Nutri-Score was considered by exploring the distribution of Nutri-Score within categories of foods using boxplots and frequency tables, and by examining which qualifying and disqualifying components that contributed most to the Nutri-Score class. Accordance with the Norwegian FBDGs was assessed by exploring Nutri-Score for foods specifically mentioned in the guidelines. Results Overall, the updated Nutri-Score seemed to discriminate the nutritional quality of foods within categories, in a Norwegian setting. The foods’ content of salt and the beverages’ content of sugar were components contributing the most to Nutri-Scores’ discriminatory ability. Furthermore, in most cases the updated Nutri-Score classified foods in accordance with the Norwegian FBDGs. However, there were minor inconsistencies in how Nutri-Score classified certain foods, such as the inabilities to discriminate between full-fat and low-fat/leaner cheeses, cremes and processed meats (sausages), and between whole grain and refined pasta/rice. Conclusions We observed an overall acceptable discriminatory performance of the updated Nutri-Score in a Norwegian setting and in most cases the updated Nutri-Score classified foods in accordance with the Norwegian FBDGs. However, minor inconsistencies were observed. Together with the FBDGs, the updated Nutri-Score could be a useful tool in guiding consumers towards healthier food choices in Norway, but consumer evaluations are warranted to fully assess the performance of the updated Nutri-Score in a Norwegian context. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12966-023-01525-y. Keywords: Nutrient profiling, Nutrition, Nutri-Score, Food-based dietary guidelines, Front-of-pack nutrition label

CITATION EXPORT

B Øvrebø, A L Brantsæter, K Lund-Iversen et al.. How does the updated Nutri-Score discriminate and classify the nutritional quality of foods in a Norwegian setting?. The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-023-01525-y

AUTHORS

6 · 5 CENTRES

B Øvrebø, A L Brantsæter, K Lund-Iversen, L F Andersen, M M Paulsen, M H Abel

1Department of Food Safety, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
2Centre for Sustainable Diets, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
3Research Administrative Support, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
4Institute of Basic Medical Sciences/Department of Nutrition, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
5Centre for Evaluation of Public Health Measures, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway