Choices tick \“more effective on reformulation\” than GDAs

July 19th, 2012

EU Food Law Weekly
The Choices tick labelling scheme is more effective at getting food manufacturers to reformulate than Guideline Daily Amounts, it was argued this week at a meeting on the healthy labelling initiative chaired by the former European Commissioner Pavel Telicka, who is chair of the Choices Foundation.
It was argued that the Choices scheme, which has profiling criteria for different categories of food, set a benchmark that manufacturers have to meet whereas with GDAs there is no benchmark.
Choices International Foundation Secretary Jup van ‘tVeld said “The product reformulation is more with Choices, there is a move to innovate.”

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Study analyses the presence of Choices in workplace cafeterias

July 19th, 2012

A recent study published in Health Promotion International looks at the degree to which the Choices stamp is present in workplace cafeterias throughout The Netherlands, as well as the factors influencing its implementation. The study represents the first evaluation of this kind for the Choices stamp, and its outcomes offer valuable insight on how to increase its availability.

The study was conducted by means of a questionnaire completed by 316 catering managers from the two largest catering companies in The Netherlands. The results show that the Choices Programme is highly present in approximately one-third of the cafeterias. This is considered a good starting point, as the Programme is relatively new and the implementation in workplace cafeterias is done on a voluntary basis.

Based on the results of the questionnaire, the study provides recommendations on how to increase current implementation levels. Firstly, efforts should be made to align the Choices stamp with catering managers’ views on healthy food. Secondly, meals that comply with Choices criteria should create as little additional work for caterers as possible. Thirdly, catering managers should endorse and be able to communicate about the advantages of the stamp with workplace visitors. Lastly, if the Choices stamp were to somehow be incorporated into caterers’ health policy, this could help to further increase the Programme’s implementation.

Dutch study estimates impact of Choices criteria on nutrient intake

July 19th, 2012

A recent study published in the Public Health Nutrition journal looks at the possible impact of reformulation and labeling initiatives on nutrient intake within the young adult population of The Netherlands. The Choices stamp was the focus of the study, and the effects of applying the Dutch Choices criteria on nutrient intake was estimated by replacing non-complying foods with those complying with the Choices criteria. The potential benefits were calculated according to the criteria, the available foods, their current market shares and the current Dutch consumption pattern.

For the three nutrients targeted by this study: SFA, sugar and sodium, it’s revealed that considerable ‘compositional’ gains can be obtained by choosing products which comply with the Choices criteria, in comparison with non-complying similar foods. In the ideal case, where all foods were replaced with similar products complying with the Choices criteria, intake reductions were estimated to be -40% for SFA, -23% for sodium and -36% for sugar. When these numbers were corrected for the 2007 market share of products bearing the Choices stamp, the actual effects were a -2,5% SFA, -1% sugar, and -0% sodium reduction.

Based on these outcomes, the authors advise the following reformulation strategies: 1) reformulation of meat (products) towards lower saturated fat and sodium contents and 2) adapting the Choices criteria for drinks towards limits far below the current criteria. This would enable additional reductions for consumers opting for Choices products.

The authors note that in order to more accurately determine the impact of Choices products on nutrient intake, updated information of composition and market share, and updated consumption data should be used.