The nutrient quality and labelling of ready-to-eat snack foods with health and/or nutrition claims

Abstract

Background: Nutrition claims on food labels are used to attract attention to products. Inaccurate claims on ready-to-eat (RTE) snack food products may mislead consumers into consuming a higher volume of a seemingly ‘healthy’ product. Objectives: A study was undertaken to determine the following surrounding the packaging of RTE snack food products: (i) compliance of health and or nutrient claims; (ii) average nutrient content per snack category; (iii) accuracy of the total energy content; (iv) eligibility to make claims once the R429 legislation is implemented. Outcome measures: Nutrient content per 100 g and serving size was analysed. Claims related to nutrient content were audited. Design: An analysis was undertaken of the labels of 93 South African-produced RTE snack food products from 10 categories, displaying health and or nutrition claims. Results: Ninety-one products displayed nutrient content claims. Twenty-three (25.3%) nutrient content claims were non-compliant with the R146 legislation. Twenty-one (22.6%) displayed negative claims, three (14.3%) were ineligible. Eighteen products (19.4%) displayed endorsement claims, four (4.4%) were eligible. Sixty-four products (68.8%) displayed a higher total energy content when applying the conversion factors to the displayed macronutrient values. Only 22 (23.7%) products would be eligible to make health and/or nutrition claims once the R429 legislation is promulgated. Conclusion: A higher proportion of eligible claims were found. More than 70% of food manufacturers will need to make changes to the nutrient content or labels once the R429 legislation is implemented. A two-pronged approach of manufacturer compliance and consumer education may improve food choices and reduce the incidence of obesity and NCDs.