Choices Compliant diet helps Portuguese consumers

June 15th, 2017

It appears that eating according to the Choices criteria will lead to a substantial improvement in nutrient intake in Portugal. This can be concluded from the study by Roxana de Sousa, nutrition student at the University of Porto. The aim of this study was to indicate the impact of a Choices compliant diet on the Portuguese nutrient intake. The study calculated the changes in nutrient intake when typical daily menus of the Porto region (North Portugal) were substituted by comparable Choices compliant products. A substantial reduction in intakes of energy (-14%), SAFA (-32%), trans fatty acids (-56%), added sugar (-22%) and sodium (-30%) and an increase in fiber intake (15%) have been demonstrated. After an energy adjustment, the results were smaller but still showed a substantial shift on nutrient intakes towards a more favorable direction. The findings of this study support previous studies that evaluated the potential impact of Choices criteria on nutrient intakes in 9 other countries. The study will be submitted for publication in a scientific journal.