In France, new analysis has sought to match the well-known entrance of pack (FOP) vitamin labelling scheme Nutri-Rating (each its preliminary and up to date model) with the Nova classification system.
Researchers from Sorbonne Paris Nord College and France’s public well being company (Santé Publique France) utilized each Nutri-Rating algorithms and Nova to 129,950 meals merchandise within the OpenFoodFacts database to match their classifications.
The findings do counsel a development, however whether or not the 2 methods must be in contrast as complementary well being measurements is up for debate.
Nutri-Rating updates affect scoring of Nova classes
When meals had been ranked utilizing the preliminary Nutri-Rating algorithm and the Nova classification system, the researchers discovered that 77.9% of meals categorised as ‘ultra-processed’ additionally obtained medium to low Nutri-Rating rankings.
When utilizing the up to date Nutri-Rating algorithm, 87.5% of ‘ultra-processed’ merchandise obtained medium to poor Nutri-Rating rankings.
How do Nutri-Rating and Nova assess foods and drinks merchandise?
Vitamin labelling scheme Nutri-Rating was developed in France in 2017. Its algorithm ranks meals from -15 for the ‘healthiest’ merchandise to +40 for these ‘much less wholesome’. Based mostly on this rating, the product receives a letter with a corresponding code: from darkish inexperienced (A) to darkish orange (E).
The Nova classification system was developed two years later in Brazil by professor of vitamin and public well being on the College of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The system splits ranges of meals processing into 4 classifications: from uncooked and minimally processed meals; to processed culinary substances; processed meals; and ultra-processed meals. This final class is an ‘industrial creation’ by definition.
The up to date Nutri-Rating algorithm refers to adjustments adopted in 2022 and 2023 for meals and beverage merchandise respectively. Below the most recent model, nuts and seeds are now not included within the ‘fruit, greens, legumes’ part, however within the ‘fat, oils, nuts and seeds’ part. Different adjustments embrace enhanced differentiation between sweetened and unsweetened dairy merchandise, and nicely as between various kinds of cheese.
The beverage algorithm replace lowers the classification for drinks with non-nutritive sweeteners similar to smooth drinks. The one beverage that may obtain the best rating of Nutri-Rating A is now water. All different drinks, together with naturally low-calorie drinks, will probably be categorized between B and E.
Drawing hyperlinks between Nutri-Rating and Nova
The up to date Nutri-Rating algorithm implies that implies that fewer merchandise had been rated A and B, and extra had been rated D and E, for all Nova classes. Nova classification 1 (unprocessed) meals had been impacted the least (3.8%) and Nova classification 4 (ultra-processed) had been most importantly impacted (-9.8%).
“Amongst ultra-processed meals rated favourably with the preliminary Nutri-Rating, artificially sweetened drinks, sweetened plant-based drinks and bread merchandise had been probably the most penalised classes by the revision of Nutri-Rating whereas low-sugar flavoured waters, fruit and legume preparations had been the least affected,” famous the research authors.
The researchers concluded the replace of the Nutri-Rating reinforces its coherence with the NOVA classification, regardless that each methods measure two distinct well being dimensions on the meals stage.
Ought to the Nutri-Rating algorithm incorporate Nova?
In keeping with the researchers, one of many criticisms levelled in opposition to the Nutri-Rating is that it doesn’t take into account the diploma of processing in its algorithm. Because it stands, solely info on dietary high quality is instantly obtainable to shoppers by FOP labelling, which is why the research authors consider exploring the alignment between the 2 methods is vital.
This research is the primary time the impact of the up to date Nutri-Rating algorithm has been in comparison with Nova, with the researchers discovering that the newer model does seem like extra aligned: considerably fewer ultra-processed meals (UPF) are rated favourably.
However additional analysis is required to determine the mechanisms by which UPF impacts well being and the way they work together with dietary high quality, famous the researchers. “Such info is required if we wish sooner or later to additional improve the algorithm of the Nutri-Rating by integrating each dimensions.
“In the meantime, well being authorities ought to talk on methods to use the Nutri-Rating adequately, whereas selling the consumption of minimally processed meals.”
Policymakers have suggested folks limit UPF consumption. The UN World Well being Group (WHO) and Meals and Agriculture Group (FAO) have beforehand advisable this, and nations together with Brazil, France and Canada have up to date their nationwide dietary tips with suggestions to restrict UPFs.
Arguing in opposition to blanket UPF restrictions in vitamin tips
However not all agree they need to. In keeping with meals methods researcher Jenny Chapman, policymakers ought to promote meals which might be each more healthy and extra sustainable, no matter their diploma of processing.
Not sufficient proof exists to label meals as UPF on the premise of well being, Chapman informed FoodNavigator. “The Nova classes are poorly outlined and loads of research present meals scientists disagree, to a statistically important extent, what belongs the place – even when supplied with substances lists.”
The definition can also be so huge that Chapman judges it ‘not possible’ to know ‘the place to attract the road’. “If one thing is extruded however accommodates no preservatives, would you name it UPF? Label insurance policies want these traces to be drawn.”
However maybe Chapman’s biggest argument in opposition to using ‘ultra-processed’ within the vitamin debate lies within the improvement of Nova itself. The classification system was devised as a sociopolitical framework and by no means supposed to be utilized to meals by vitamin scientists, she argues in latest analysis. “It’s not a scientific definition…and doesn’t have a spot in vitamin science. [Nova creator] Monteiro’s authentic definition was by no means supposed to group meals on the premise of whether or not they had been wholesome or not.”
Supply: Public Well being Vitamin
‘Complementarity between the up to date model of the front-of-pack vitamin label Nutri-Rating and the food-processing Nova classification’
Revealed on-line 1 February 2024
DOI: 10.1017/S1368980024000296
Authors: Barthelemy Sarda, Emmanuelle Kesse-Guyot, Chantal Julia et al.
Attention-grabbing to be taught extra about extremely processing within the meals and beverage trade? Tune into our ‘Reformulation and Fortification’ session at FoodNavigator’s upcoming Optimistic Vitamin occasion 12-14 March 2024.
