Comparison of global nutrient profiling systems for restricting the commercial marketing of foods and beverages of low nutritional quality to children in Canada

Abstract

The Canadian government recently committed to introduce legislation to restrict the commercial marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children. We compared the degree of strictness and agreement between nutrient profile (NP) models relevant to marketing restrictions by applying them in the Canadian context. With the use of data from the University of Toronto 2013 Food Label Information Program ( = 15,342 prepackaged foods), 4 NP models were evaluated: the Food Standards Australia New Zealand-Nutrient Profiling Scoring Criterion (FSANZ-NPSC), the WHO Regional Office for Europe (EURO) model, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) model, and a modified version of the PAHO model (Modified-PAHO), which did not consider the extent of food processing because the application of this characteristic was prone to ambiguity. The number and proportion of foods that would be eligible for marketing to children was calculated with the use of each model, overall and by food category. The Modified-PAHO and PAHO models would permit only 9.8% (95% CI: 9.4%, 10.3%) and 15.8% (95% CI: 15.3%, 16.4%) of foods, respectively, followed by the EURO model [29.8% (95% CI: 29.0%, 30.5%)]. In contrast, the FSANZ-NPSC would consider almost half of prepackaged foods as eligible for marketing to children [49.0% (95% CI: 48.2%, 49.8%)]. Cross-classification analyses showed that only 8.1% of foods would be eligible based on all models (e.g., most pastas without sauce). Subanalyses showed that each model would be more stringent when evaluating food items that specifically target children on their package ( = 747; from 1.9% of foods eligible under Modified-PAHO to 24.2% under FSANZ-NPSC). The degree of strictness and agreement vary greatly between NP models applicable to marketing restrictions. The discrepancies between models highlight the importance for policy makers to carefully evaluate the characteristics underlying such models when trying to identify a suitable model to underpin regulations restricting the marketing of unhealthy foods to children.

Applying Nutrient Profiling Systems to Packaged Foods and Drinks Sold in Jamaica

“…In the absence of any formative food composition data, it is imperative to test how foods available in Jamaica perform using different NPSs. Other countries have compared how different NPSs might apply to the products available in their country, such as in Canada [24,25], Mexico [26] and Colombia [27]. The findings here on the share of products with excess NOCs under the PAHO compared to the Chile NPS are consistent with the studies done elsewhere; the PAHO NPS would identify a larger percentage of packaged products as having excess NOCs.…”

Development of a Responsible Policy Index to Improve Statutory and Self-Regulatory Policies that Protect Children’s Diet and Health in the America’s Region

“…This research suggests that the nutrient criteria and narrow scopes on marketing techniques covered in policies are some of the potential loopholes. The nutrient criteria delimit the products that are allowed to be marketed to children, therefore week standards will result in higher exposure of HFSS food and beverage products as previous research have demonstrated [57][58][59][60]. On the other hand, narrowing the scope to a single marketing technique and/or media channels, settings and platforms leaves room for food and beverage companies to continue to market HFSS food and beverage products to young people.…”

Evaluating the Canadian Packaged Food Supply Using Health Canada’s Proposed Nutrient Criteria for Restricting Food and Beverage Marketing to Children

“…Foods in FLIP 2013 were classified into 24 major and 153 minor categories as defined in the Table of Reference Amounts for Foods (TRA) in the Food and Drug Regulations, which provides detailed examples of the types of foods in each category and subcategory [19]. The identification of products displaying M2K on the packaging has been previously determined in FLIP 2013, based on the display of at least one of the following persuasive marketing techniques: children's product lines (e.g., junior, mini); child-appealing lettering, images or graphics; allusions to fun or play; unconventional flavors, colors, or shapes; toys, coupons, prizes, or contests; games; and child-appealing characters [20].…”