Understand and Use Nutrition Claims

1. Understand and Use Nutrition Claims

2. Control of Nutrition Claims • Nutrition claim means any representation which states, suggests or implies that a food has particular nutritional properties. • From 1 July 2010, all nutrition claims must meet certain specified conditions. • Nutrition claims on food labels and advertisements are all regulated. • Nutrition claims include: • Nutrient content claim • Nutrient comparative claim • Nutrient function claim

3. Control of Nutrition Claims • The amount of nutrient involved in a nutrition claim must be declared on the nutrition label. • If a nutrition claim is made in relation to any type of fat, the amount of cholesterol must be declared on the nutrition label as well.

4. Nutrient Content Claim– Example

5. Nutrient Content Claim • It describes the level of a nutrient contained in a food. • E.g. “High calcium”, “Low fat”, “Sugars free” • Overall speaking, nutrient content claims include: • “Free” claim • “Very low” claim (for sodium only) • “Low” claim • “Source” claim • “High” claim • Words with similar meaning may be used as well.

6. Nutrient Content Claim

7. Nutrient Content Claim This category of claim applies to sodium only

8. Nutrient Content Claim

9. Nutrient Content Claim

10. Nutrient Content Claim

11. Nutrient Comparative Claim - Example

12. Nutrient Comparative Claim • It compares the nutrient levels of two or more same or similar types of food products. • E.g. “Reduced fat - 25% less than the regular product of the same brand” • Wordings with similar meaning may be used.

13. Nutrient Comparative Claim

14. Nutrient Function Claim - Example

15. Nutrient Function Claim • It describes the physiological role of a nutrient in growth, development and normal functions of the body. • It must fulfil several general principles, such as: • The claim must be supported by science. • The information about the physiological role of the claimed nutrient must be included in the claim. • Examples of common nutrient function claims: • “Calcium builds strong bones” • “Iron is a factor in red blood cell formation”

16. Other Representation • The following would not be considered as a nutrition claim: • “No MSG” • “With electrolytes” • “Unsweetened”/ “less sweet”

17. Use Nutrition Claim Wisely • Nutrition claims appear on the package only give a rough idea about the content of a particular nutrient; very often nutrition claims are made for a specific nutrient only. • We should not make a food choice solely on the basis of a nutrition claim. In order to eat healthily, we should take note of other nutrients as well. • For example, a product with a “low sugars” claim may have high fat content. • The best practice is to refer to the nutrition label for detailed information.

18. Nutrition Label and Healthy Eating

20. Principles of Healthy Eating • Choose a variety of food and eat cereals as the largest portion of food in every meal. • Eat a lot of vegetables and fruit. • Reduce the consumption of foodstuffs with high salt, fat and sugar content as well as those which are preserved. • A daily fluid intake of 6 to 8 glasses (including clear soup, fruit juice and tea). • Take meals regularly and in adequate amounts. (Source of information: Department of Health)

21. Nutrition Labelling is a Useful Tool for Practising Healthy Eating • Nutrition label and nutrition claim can help consumers choose healthier food in accordance with healthy eating principles and the Food Pyramid, e.g. • Choose biscuits lower in fat and sodium (or salt) • Choose dairy products lower in fat • Choose beverages lower in sugars

22. Nutrients that Needed to Limit their Intake For a 2000-kcal diet, the daily limit should be: 1 tablespoon of oil provides about 14 g of fat. * Individual intake amounts may be higher or lower depending on energy requirements.

23. Nutrients that Needed to Limit their Intake For a 2000-kcal diet, the daily limit should be: 1 cube / 1 teaspoon of sugars provides about 5 g of sugars. 1 teaspoon of salt (about 5 g) provides about 2000 mg of sodium. * Individual intake amounts may be higher or lower depending on energy requirements.

24. Nutrients that Needed to Have Appropriate Amount For a 2000-kcal diet, the daily amount should be around: * Individual intake amounts may be higher or lower depending on energy requirements.

25. Intake of Other Nutrients For an average adult, try to set the daily amount of about:

26. Use Nutrition Labels to Choose “3 Low” Prepackaged Food

27. How to Choose “3 Low” Prepackaged Food “3 Low”--- Low fat, Low sodium (or Low salt), Low sugars • Use nutrition claim as a quick screening tool; and • Take three simple steps to read nutrition label, and choose food lower in fat, sodium and sugars

28. How to Choose “3 Low” Prepackaged Food The words below are considered as synonyms for nutrition claims, they may help you choose food with low/free fat, sodium or sugars:

29. How to Choose “3 Low” Prepackaged Food Three Simple Steps to Read Nutrition Label Step 1 • Take note of the reference amount of food being used in the nutrition label Step 2 • Read and compare the nutritional content Step 3 • Refer to the percentage Nutrient Reference Value (%NRV) (If available)

30. How to Choose “3 Low” Prepackaged Food – Example 1 Milk Beverage A Milk Beverage B

31. How to Choose “3 Low” Prepackaged Food – Example 2 Corn Flakes C Corn Flakes D

32. How to Choose “3 Low” Prepackaged Food – Example 3 Soup E Soup F

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