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Consumer exposure to nutrition and health claims in Ireland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 September 2017

D. McGettigan ,
M.A. Kerr  and
M.T. McCann
D. McGettigan
Affiliation:
Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), Ulster University, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, UK
M.A. Kerr
Affiliation:
Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), Ulster University, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, UK
M.T. McCann
Affiliation:
Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), Ulster University, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, UK
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Abstract

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Nutrition and health claims (NHC) are used on food products by manufacturers to highlight the proven health benefits of a product( Reference Hughes, Wellard and Lin 1 ). Evidence suggests that the presence of a NHC on a food product may help increase sales( 2 ) making heir use attractive to food manufacturers. The prevalence of NHC made on foods is rising( 3 ) as industry has recognised their value as a marketing tool( Reference Van Buul and Brouns 4 ). This study aimed to examine consumer exposure to NHC on pre-packaged foods and beverages in Ireland.

An observational analysis was undertaken to assess the labels of pre-packaged foods and beverages available in stores in Ireland to determine the prevalence and type of NHC. Where present, a photograph of the packaging was taken and the details of the claim recorded. Foods were categorised into 13 food groups. NHC were categorised in accordance with EU Regulation 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods.

Three retail outlets which were representative of nationwide stores across the Island of Ireland were assessed; one major retailer, one medium independent retailer and one discount retailer. Three hundred and ninety three food products were randomly sampled from these retail outlets stocklists.

Of the 393 products sampled, 36·4 % carried at least one nutrition or health claim. 29·3 % of products carried at least one nutrition claim and 8·4 % at least one health claim. The discount retailer was found to have the highest proportion of nutrition and health claims (41·1 % of products) with the major retailer and medium independent having 37·7 % and 29·3 % respectively. Of all the claims observed, 63 % were nutrition claims and 20·1 % were health claims.

In Ireland while NHC prevalence appears to have decreased since 2010( Reference Lalor, Kennedy and Flynn 5 ), consumers remain exposed to a higher number of NHC in comparison to other EU countries( Reference Hieke, Kuljanic and Pravst 6 ). The high level of consumer exposure to NHC in Ireland may be perceived as beneficial due to their role in facilitating healthy food choices.

References

1. Hughes, C, Wellard, L, Lin, J et al. (2013) Public Health Nutr 16(12), 2154–2162.Google Scholar
2. National Starch and Chemical GmbH (2007) Nutraingredients 24 July.Google Scholar
3. EFSA (2015a) Nutrition and health claims Available from: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/nutrition Google Scholar
4. Van Buul, VJ and Brouns, FJ (2015) Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 55(11), 1552–1560.Google Scholar
5. Lalor, F, Kennedy, J, Flynn, MA et al. (2010) Public Health Nutr 13(05), 704–711.Google Scholar
6. Hieke, S, Kuljanic, N, Pravst, I et al. (2016) Nutrients 8(3), 137.Google Scholar