Publication: Declaration of nutrition information on and nutritional quality of Thai ready-to-eat packaged food products
Issued Date
2018-06-01
Resource Type
ISSN
14752727
13689800
13689800
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-85047181776
Rights
Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Public Health Nutrition. Vol.21, No.8 (2018), 1409-1417
Suggested Citation
Suladda Pongutta, Pitipa Chongwatpol, Parwin Tantayapirak, Stefanie Vandevijvere Declaration of nutrition information on and nutritional quality of Thai ready-to-eat packaged food products. Public Health Nutrition. Vol.21, No.8 (2018), 1409-1417. doi:10.1017/S1368980017003792 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/46632
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Title
Declaration of nutrition information on and nutritional quality of Thai ready-to-eat packaged food products
Abstract
© 2018 The Authors. Objective The present study assessed the nutrition information displayed on ready-to-eat packaged foods and the nutritional quality of those food products in Thailand.Design In March 2015, the nutrition information panels and nutrition and health claims on ready-to-eat packaged foods were collected from the biggest store of each of the twelve major retailers, using protocols developed by the International Network for Food and Obesity/Non-communicable Diseases Research, Monitoring and Action Support (INFORMAS). The Thai Nutrient Profile Model was used to classify food products according to their nutritional quality as 'healthier' or 'less healthy'.Results In total, information from 7205 food products was collected across five broad food categories. Out of those products, 5707 (79·2 %), 2536 (35·2 %) and 1487 (20·6 %) carried a nutrition facts panel, a Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) label and health-related claims, respectively. Only 4691 (65·1 %) and 2484 (34·5 %) of the products that displayed the nutrition facts or a GDA label, respectively, followed the guidelines of the Thai Food and Drug Administration. In total, 4689 products (65·1 %) could be classified according to the Thai Nutrient Profile Model, of which 432 products (9·2 %) were classified as healthier. Moreover, among the 1487 products carrying health-related claims, 1219 (82·0 %) were classified as less healthy. Allowing less healthy food products to carry claims could mislead consumers and result in overconsumption of ready-to-eat food products.Conclusions The findings suggest effective policies should be implemented to increase the relative availability of healthier ready-to-eat packaged foods, as well as to improve the provision of nutrition information on labels in Thailand.