Choosing front-of-package food labelling nutritional criteria: how smart were 'Smart Choices'? 2012

Christina A Roberto, and Marie A Bragg, and Kara A Livingston, and Jennifer L Harris, and Jackie M Thompson, and Marissa J Seamans, and Kelly D Brownell
Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, Yale University, PO Box 208369, New Haven, CT 06511, USA. christina.roberto@yale.edu

OBJECTIVE The 'Smart Choices' programme was an industry-driven, front-of-package (FOP) nutritional labelling system introduced in the USA in August 2009, ostensibly to help consumers select healthier options during food shopping. Its nutritional criteria were developed by members of the food industry in collaboration with nutrition and public health experts and government officials. The aim of the present study was to test the extent to which products labelled as 'Smart Choices' could be classified as healthy choices on the basis of the Nutrient Profile Model (NPM), a non-industry-developed, validated nutritional standard. METHODS A total of 100 packaged products that qualified for a 'Smart Choices' designation were sampled from eight food and beverage categories. All products were evaluated using the NPM method. RESULTS In all, 64 % of the products deemed 'Smart Choices' did not meet the NPM standard for a healthy product. Within each 'Smart Choices' category, 0 % of condiments, 8·70 % of fats and oils, 15·63 % of cereals and 31·58 % of snacks and sweets met NPM thresholds. All sampled soups, beverages, desserts and grains deemed 'Smart Choices' were considered healthy according to the NPM standard. CONCLUSIONS The 'Smart Choices' programme is an example of industries' attempts at self-regulation. More than 60 % of foods that received the 'Smart Choices' label did not meet standard nutritional criteria for a 'healthy' food choice, suggesting that industries' involvement in designing labelling systems should be scrutinized. The NPM system may be a good option as the basis for establishing FOP labelling criteria, although more comparisons with other systems are needed.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007881 Legislation, Food Laws and regulations concerned with industrial processing and marketing of foods and beverages. Food Laws,Food Legislation,Food Law,Food Legislations,Law, Food,Laws, Food
D009753 Nutritive Value An indication of the contribution of a food to the nutrient content of the diet. This value depends on the quantity of a food which is digested and absorbed and the amounts of the essential nutrients (protein, fat, carbohydrate, minerals, vitamins) which it contains. This value can be affected by soil and growing conditions, handling and storage, and processing. Biological Availability, Nutritional,Nutritional Availability,Availability, Biological Nutritional,Availability, Nutritional Biologic,Biologic Availability, Nutritional,Biologic Nutritional Availability,Nutrition Value,Nutritional Availability, Biologic,Nutritional Availability, Biological,Nutritional Biological Availability,Nutritional Food Quality,Nutritional Quality,Nutritional Value,Nutritive Quality,Availability, Biologic Nutritional,Availability, Nutritional,Availability, Nutritional Biological,Biological Nutritional Availability,Food Quality, Nutritional,Nutrition Values,Nutritional Biologic Availability,Nutritional Values,Nutritive Values,Quality, Nutritional,Quality, Nutritional Food,Quality, Nutritive,Value, Nutrition,Value, Nutritional,Value, Nutritive,Values, Nutrition,Values, Nutritional,Values, Nutritive
D005515 Food Labeling Use of written, printed, or graphic materials upon or accompanying a food or its container or wrapper. The concept includes ingredients, NUTRITIONAL VALUE, directions, warnings, and other relevant information. Labeling, Food,Nutrition Labeling,Product Labeling, Food,Food Labelling,Food Product Labeling,Labeling, Food Product,Labeling, Nutrition,Labelling, Food
D006266 Health Education Education that increases the awareness and favorably influences the attitudes and knowledge relating to the improvement of health on a personal or community basis. Community Health Education,Education, Health,Education, Community Health,Health Education, Community
D006293 Health Promotion Encouraging consumer behaviors most likely to optimize health potentials (physical and psychosocial) through health information, preventive programs, and access to medical care. Health Campaigns,Promotion of Health,Wellness Programs,Promotional Items,Campaign, Health,Campaigns, Health,Health Campaign,Health Promotions,Item, Promotional,Items, Promotional,Program, Wellness,Programs, Wellness,Promotion, Health,Promotional Item,Promotions, Health,Wellness Program
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014481 United States A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.
D054626 Consumer Health Information Information intended for potential users of medical and healthcare services. There is an emphasis on self-care and preventive approaches as well as information for community-wide dissemination and use. Health Information, Consumer,Information, Consumer Health
D058870 Food, Organic Food that is grown or manufactured in accordance with nationally regulated production standards that include restrictions on the use of pesticides, non-organic fertilizers, genetic engineering, growth hormones, irradiation, antibiotics, and non-organic ingredients. Natural Food,Organic Food,Organic Produce,Food, Natural,Foods, Natural,Foods, Organic,Natural Foods,Organic Foods,Produce, Organic
D019649 Food Industry The industry concerned with processing, preparing, preserving, distributing, and serving of foods and beverages. Food Industries,Industries, Food,Industry, Food

Related Publications

Christina A Roberto, and Marie A Bragg, and Kara A Livingston, and Jennifer L Harris, and Jackie M Thompson, and Marissa J Seamans, and Kelly D Brownell
November 2011, European journal of clinical nutrition,
Christina A Roberto, and Marie A Bragg, and Kara A Livingston, and Jennifer L Harris, and Jackie M Thompson, and Marissa J Seamans, and Kelly D Brownell
April 2010, The American journal of clinical nutrition,
Christina A Roberto, and Marie A Bragg, and Kara A Livingston, and Jennifer L Harris, and Jackie M Thompson, and Marissa J Seamans, and Kelly D Brownell
January 2018, Salud colectiva,
Christina A Roberto, and Marie A Bragg, and Kara A Livingston, and Jennifer L Harris, and Jackie M Thompson, and Marissa J Seamans, and Kelly D Brownell
October 2023, Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.),
Christina A Roberto, and Marie A Bragg, and Kara A Livingston, and Jennifer L Harris, and Jackie M Thompson, and Marissa J Seamans, and Kelly D Brownell
March 2020, International journal of evidence-based healthcare,
Christina A Roberto, and Marie A Bragg, and Kara A Livingston, and Jennifer L Harris, and Jackie M Thompson, and Marissa J Seamans, and Kelly D Brownell
April 2012, Appetite,
Christina A Roberto, and Marie A Bragg, and Kara A Livingston, and Jennifer L Harris, and Jackie M Thompson, and Marissa J Seamans, and Kelly D Brownell
January 2014, Appetite,
Christina A Roberto, and Marie A Bragg, and Kara A Livingston, and Jennifer L Harris, and Jackie M Thompson, and Marissa J Seamans, and Kelly D Brownell
July 2023, BMJ global health,
Christina A Roberto, and Marie A Bragg, and Kara A Livingston, and Jennifer L Harris, and Jackie M Thompson, and Marissa J Seamans, and Kelly D Brownell
June 2020, Nutrients,
Christina A Roberto, and Marie A Bragg, and Kara A Livingston, and Jennifer L Harris, and Jackie M Thompson, and Marissa J Seamans, and Kelly D Brownell
January 2023, Comprehensive reviews in food science and food safety,
Copied contents to your clipboard!