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Life without legal metrology is inconceivable, as legal metrology encompasses every sphere of daily life, from eating to safeguarding health to ensuring public safety and the environment. On the other hand, food plays an important role in human life, and the entire civilisation survives on food. Food laws have been developed over the years with the primary objective of providing consumers with safe and nutritious food. Food laws primarily focus on ensuring the safety and quality of consumables, while legal metrology laws govern the accuracy of weights and measures in commercial transactions, including pre-packed food. The intersection of food laws and legal metrology laws in India presents a complex framework that requires careful analysis. This intersection becomes crucial as discrepancies in quantity, labelling, or packaging can impact consumer rights and public health and appropriate declarations on the packaging help the consumer make an informed choice. This comprehensive analysis involves examining how these regulations merge, identifying potential conflicts, and proposing harmonised measures to enhance regulatory efficiency and consumer protection. Balancing the intricacies of both frameworks is essential to creating a robust system that addresses the unique challenges posed by the intersection of food and metrology regulations in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years, various definitions of "added sugars" have emerged across jurisdictions. Although it is clear how these definitions differ, there is limited understanding of the policy implications associated with these variations. Objective: To test the potential policy implications of different definitions of "added sugars" on the Australian packaged food supply, we developed a method to estimate the content of "added sugars" in packaged foods and applied this to 3 different definitions of "added sugars": (i) United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) added sugar definition, (ii) the World Health Organization (WHO) free sugar definition, and (iii) a comprehensive definition that was developed from a review of the evidence on "added sugars." Methods: Using a representative sample of 25,323 Australian packaged foods, the "added sugar" content and proportion of products that contain "added sugar" under the 3 definitions were estimated. In addition, a comparative analysis exploring the impact of the US FDA definition (least comprehensive) vs. the comprehensive definition was conducted to understand potential implications of adopting different regulatory definitions in Australia. Results: The US FDA definition identified the lowest number and proportion of products with any "added sugars" at 14,380 products (representing 56.8% of all products), followed by the WHO free sugar definition at 15,168 products (59.9%) and the comprehensive definition at 16,260 products (64.2%). The mean estimates for "added sugars" were 8.5 g/100 g, 8.7 g/100 g, and 9.6 g/100 g for the US FDA, WHO, and comprehensive definitions, respectively. Compared with the US FDA definition, the comprehensive definition captured an additional 7.4% of products, largely driven by nonalcoholic beverages, special foods and fruit, vegetables, nuts, and legumes. Conclusions: Despite small variations in different "added sugars" definitions, their application has some significant policy implications. Findings highlight the importance of applying a comprehensive regulatory definition that adequately captures all sugars that have been linked to poor health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: helping consumers to know what they eat represents a communication challenge. Objectives: to evaluate the level of understanding of the information contained in a nutritional label in Venezuelan adult consumers, and their eventual ability to extrapolate said data in making purchase decisions related to a balanced and healthy diet. Methods: a descriptive cross-sectional study in which 377 people participated through a questionnaire with eight open questions, focused on the general use and perception of nutritional labeling, as well as the ability to interpret the information contained therein. Results: The 77.45% of the sample valued finding the nutritional information on the packaging of a product as very important. Middle-aged women read the nutritional information the most. In general, the performances on the understanding of the information of the nutritional table were very poor, and the only demographic variable studied strongly associated with its understanding was the educational level of the participants. Conclusions: a high percentage of people are unable to understand nutrition labeling information, representing a challenge for the evolution to more efficient labeling systems and consumer nutrition literacy programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Literature on packaged food consumption and associated factors in Kerala is limited. This study aims to find out consumption pattern of packaged food and the factors associated with it among young adults in Kerala. Design/methodology/approach: The authors conducted a cross-sectional survey among 384 young adults aged 18–30 years selected using multistage cluster sampling. Information on packaged food consumption and sociodemographic factors was collected using a structured, pre-tested interview schedule. Binary logistic regression analysis was done to find out the factors associated with packaged food consumption. Findings: Among the participants, 85.7% (95% CI = 81.9%–88.9%) reported consuming packaged food at least once a week, and 45% (95% CI = 40.4%–50.3%) reported consuming packaged food more than two times a week. Individuals who were employed [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.06–2.76], who consume packaged food without a fixed routine (AOR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.18–4.28), those without previous attempts to reduce packaged food consumption (AOR = 3.45, 95% CI = 1.72–6.91) and those who preferred packaged food for their taste and flavor (AOR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.09–2.74) had greater odds of consuming packaged food more than two times a week compared to their counterparts. Originality/value: Packaged food is frequently consumed by more than 40% of young adults in Kerala. Efforts focused on individuals (such as building awareness and taxing packaged foods) are warranted to control packaged food consumption among young adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To solve the problems of poor recognition accuracy and low efficiency of existing automatic recognition methods for packaged food. Methods: Based on the automatic identification system of packaged food, an improved YOLOv3 model was proposed for the automatic identification of soft packaged food. The Kmeans++algorithm was introduced into the model to solve the problem of small target insensitivity, the Mish activation function was introduced into the model to improve the accuracy of recognition, and the attention mechanism Senet was introduced into the model to improve the ability of feature extraction. The performance of the recognition model was analyzed through experiments, and the superiority of the model was verified. Results: Compared with the conventional recognition methods, the proposed method can more accurately and efficiently realize the automatic recognition of flexible packaging food, the recognition accuracy rate was 95.40%, and the recognition efficiency was 23.80 f/s, which meets the needs of packaging food recognition. Conclusion: By optimizing the existing food recognition model, the performance of the recognition model can be effectively improved.

Packaged foods have significantly expanded their market presence, with the utilization of vice–virtue bundles gaining momentum, particularly in the realm of vice-packaged foods. Consequently, understanding how consumers respond to vice-packaged food with vice–virtue bundles (i.e., vice-packaged food combined with virtue ingredients) becomes crucial. This research investigates this issue through four experiments employing a one-way between-subjects design, incorporating distinct stimuli and measures, and involving samples from diverse sources. In Experiment 1 (n = 172), Experiment 2 (n = 169), and the follow-up experiment (n = 153), variance analysis, chi-square test, and mediating analysis demonstrate that consumers are more inclined to purchase vice-packaged food with vice–virtue bundles owing to the perception of it being healthier than vice packaged food with vice–virtue bundles. Furthermore, Experiment 3 (n = 249) employs moderated mediation analysis, uncovering that both the heightened purchase intention for vice-packaged food with vice–virtue bundles and the mediating effect of perceived healthiness are attenuated among consumers with prevention (vs. promotion) focus. Beyond contributing to theories on packaged food consumption, vice–virtue bundles, and regulatory focus theory, these findings hold practical implications for packaged food marketing, promoting rational food choices, and enhancing healthier diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Consumers in the US make choices within a food supply dominated by processed packaged foods and beverage products. Front-of-package nutrition labels (FOPL) equip consumers to make healthier choices, but further evaluation and regulation regarding FOPL format, scope, and display have been recommended by the World Health Organization. As a leader in consumer FOPL guidance, the American Heart Association's (AHA) Heart Check programme certifies food companies seeking to add an AHA Heart Check logo as a FOPL for qualifying heart healthy products. A cross-sectional assessment of the AHA Heart Check Standard Certification was conducted within the US packaged food and beverage supply to assess the eligibility and prevalence of the programme as a FOPL. Methods: Data were derived from Label Insight's Open Data initiative, which is the largest publicly-available US branded food composition database. The proportions of products that were certified and eligible to be certified for the Standard Certification were reported by nutrient attributes, grocery aisles and food brands. Results: Among 153,453 products examined, fewer than 1% exhibited the Heart Check certification on their label. Among products that were not Heart Check certified,13.8% were eligible for Standard Certification. The most common reason for ineligibility was the saturated fat content (52%), followed by total fat content (47%) and sodium content (47%). Heart Check certification and eligibility differed substantially across grocery aisle categories. Conclusions: The abundance of unhealthy products in the US packaged food and beverage supply and absence of harmonized FOPL policies suggest the need for FOPL like the Heart Check label to promote adherence to healthy diets. There are opportunities for food manufacturers and the AHA to certify more heart healthy foods and beverages. However, more consistent criteria and transparent labelling could enhance Heart Check certification to facilitate consumers' ability to make more informed and healthful purchases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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BackgroundDietary sodium has a dose-response relationship with cardiovascular disease, and sodium intake in Sweden exceeds national and international recommendations. Two thirds of dietary sodium intake comes from processed foods, and adults in Sweden eat more processed foods than any other European country. We hypothesized that sodium content in processed foods is higher in Sweden than in other countries. The aim of this study was to investigate sodium content in processed food items in Sweden, and how it differs from Australia, France, Hong Kong, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.MethodsData were collected from retailers by trained research staff using standardized methods. Data were categorized into 10 food categories and compared using Kruskal-Wallis test of ranks. Sodium content in the food items was compared in mg sodium per 100 g of product, based on the nutritional content labels on the packages.ResultsCompared to other countries, Sweden had among the highest sodium content in the “dairy” and “convenience foods” categories, but among the lowest in “cereal and grain products,” “seafood and seafood products” and “snack foods” categories. Australia had the overall lowest sodium content, and the US the overall highest. The highest sodium content in most analyzed countries was found in the “meat and meat products” category. The highest median sodium content in any category was found among “sauces, dips, spreads and dressings” in Hong Kong.ConclusionThe sodium content differed substantially between countries in all food categories, although contrary to our hypothesis, processed foods overall had lower sodium content in Sweden than in most other included countries. Sodium content in processed food was nonetheless high also in Sweden, and especially so in increasingly consumed food categories, such as “convenience foods”.

In most African countries, the prevalence of industrially produced trans-fatty acids (iTFA) in the food supply is unknown. We estimated the number and proportion of products containing specific (any hydrogenated edible oils) and non-specific (vegetable fat, margarine, and vegetable cream) ingredients potentially indicative of iTFAs among pre-packaged foods collected in Kenya and Nigeria. We also summarized the number and proportion of products that reported trans-fatty acids levels and the range of reported trans-fatty acids levels. In total, 99 out of 5668 (1.7%) products in Kenya and 310 out of 6316 (4.9%) products in Nigeria contained specific ingredients indicative of iTFAs. Bread and bakery products and confectioneries in both countries had the most foods that contained iTFAs-indicative ingredients. A total of 656 products (12%) in Kenya and 624 products (10%) in Nigeria contained non-specific ingredients that may indicate the presence of iTFAs. The reporting of levels of trans-fatty acids was low in both Kenya and Nigeria (11% versus 26%, respectively, p < 0.001). With the increasing burden of ischemic heart disease in Kenya and Nigeria, the rapid adoption of WHO best-practice policies and the mandatory declaration of trans-fatty acids are important for eliminating iTFAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vulnerable populations are the most prone to diet-related disease. The availability, healthiness, and price of foods have established associations with diet-related disease in communities. However, data describing this in India are sparse, particularly in urban slums and rural areas. Aim: To quantify and compare availability, healthiness, and price of packaged and unpackaged foods and beverages in India, and to identify opportunities to improve diets and health of vulnerable populations. Methods: Nutrition data and price were collected on foods and beverages available at 44 stores in urban, urban slum, and rural areas in four states in India between May and August 2018. Healthiness was assessed using the Australasian Health Star Rating system and product retail prices were examined. Comparisons in the findings were made across state, community area type, and adherence to current and draft Indian food labeling regulations. Results: Packaged foods and beverages (n = 1443, 89%) were more prevalent than unpackaged (n = 172, 11%). Unpackaged products were healthier than packaged (mean Health Star Rating = 3.5 vs 2.0; p < 0.001) and lower in price (median price per 100 g/ml: 13.42 Indian rupees vs 25.70 Indian rupees; p < 0.001), a pattern observed across most community area types and states. 96% of packaged products were compliant with current Indian labeling regulations but only 23% were compliant with proposed labeling regulations. Conclusions: Unpackaged products were on average much healthier and lower in price than packaged foods and beverages. Food policies that support greater availability, accessibility and consumption of unpackaged foods, while limiting consumption of packaged foods, have enormous potential for sustaining the health of the Indian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Input-output tables for national economies are widely available and may provide an established mechanism for estimating environmental impacts of industry sectors. We used environmentally extended input-output (EEIO) analysis to estimate greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe) for Australian packaged foods and beverages and compared the findings to those derived from life cycle analysis (LCA). GHGe intensities in purchaser prices were used alongside corresponding median prices per kilogram from NielsenIQ Homescan, a nationally representative database with food prices. Applying GHGe estimates to a 2019 Australian packaged food database, we reported median and interquartile range (IQR) GHGe per kilogram, comparing them with LCA-derived estimates. EEIO-derived intensities were estimated for 23,550 products, and the median overall GHGe based on EEIO data was 6.87 kg CO2eq / kg (IQR 4.20 to 10.5). LCA-derived estimates were comparatively lower, showing a median overall GHGe of 2.42 kg CO2eq / kg (IQR 1.41 to 5.00) using Poore and Nemecek data and 2.35 kg CO2eq / kg (IQR 1.24 to 4.53) using FoodSwitch. Despite differences in magnitude, EEIO-derived data discriminated between the highest emitting categories in alignment with the LCA-based approaches. Future work is required to understand the discrepancies and make the EEIO method a compelling alternative to LCA-based approaches. • Input-output tables can be used to estimate environmental impacts of industry sectors. • Emissions from production of packaged foods calculated using input-output approach. • Emissions from packaged foods also estimated using prior life-cycle analysis data. • Input-output approach found higher emissions; applicability to packaged foods limited. • Hybrid approaches for environmental impact assessment may be ideal for packaged foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food and beverage companies reformulate packaged foods and to better align their products with public health policies and evolving consumer needs. The nutritional quality of packaged foodscan be tracked using nutrient profiling methods. The present study compared the nutritional quality of packaged foods launched globally between 2016 and 2018 and those launched in 2018–2020, as reported in the Mintel Global New Products Database. Nutrient profiling analyses showed that the nutrient composition of product categories shifted for almost 40% of newly launched products between 2016–2018 and 2018–2020. For example, pizzas that had been assigned to one nutritionally homogenous category in 2016–2018 separated in two nutritionally distinct subgroups in 2018–2020. The new products that were reduced in protein, saturated fat, and sodium were now nutritionally distinct from the traditional pizza offer. By 2018–2020 “best of category” products were significantly lower in sugar and sodium than before; however, no clear trend was observed for saturated fats, proteins, or fibers. The relative speed of product reformulation was category specific. This analysis of the Mintel Global New Products Database suggests that the WHO nutritional recommendations focusing on sugar and sodium reduction did have a positive impact on the composition of new packaged foods, whether through reformulation of existing products, launches of line extensions or new product development.

Packaged foods have significantly expanded their market presence, with the utilization of vice–virtue bundles gaining momentum, particularly in the realm of vice-packaged foods. Consequently, understanding how consumers respond to vice-packaged food with vice–virtue bundles (i.e., vice-packaged food combined with virtue ingredients) becomes crucial. This research investigates this issue through four experiments employing a one-way between-subjects design, incorporating distinct stimuli and measures, and involving samples from diverse sources. In Experiment 1 (n = 172), Experiment 2 (n = 169), and the follow-up experiment (n = 153), variance analysis, chi-square test, and mediating analysis demonstrate that consumers are more inclined to purchase vice-packaged food with vice–virtue bundles owing to the perception of it being healthier than vice packaged food with vice–virtue bundles. Furthermore, Experiment 3 (n = 249) employs moderated mediation analysis, uncovering that both the heightened purchase intention for vice-packaged food with vice–virtue bundles and the mediating effect of perceived healthiness are attenuated among consumers with prevention (vs. promotion) focus. Beyond contributing to theories on packaged food consumption, vice–virtue bundles, and regulatory focus theory, these findings hold practical implications for packaged food marketing, promoting rational food choices, and enhancing healthier diets.

Abstract Background Food environments are influenced by food industries (packaged food and non-alcoholic beverage manufacturers; supermarkets and quick service restaurants). An important source of this influence is the significant market power held by a limited number of food companies. Market structure analysis, as part of a broader market power research agenda, has received limited attention from the public health community. The aim of this study was to analyse similarities and differences in market structure across countries and industries in the European Single Market. Methods The companies with the largest market share at the national level for each industry were identified from Euromonitor sales data in 2017/18. The market structure was assessed by the following metrics: the number of global brand owners with ≥1% market share per country, the number of companies unique for one European Single Market member state, the most sold packaged food and non-alcoholic beverage categories, the number of quick-service restaurants and supermarkets per 1000 inhabitants and market concentration by means of the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) and the four firm concentration ratio (CR4). CR4-values > 40% and HHI-values > 2000 indicate concentrated markets with limited competition. Results The leading packaged food and non-alcoholic beverage manufacturers and the most sold food and beverage product categories were similar across countries in Europe. The observed levels of concentration were however different. Average CR4-values ranged from 21 to 72% among packaged food product markets and 60 to 76% for non-alcoholic beverage product markets. Average CR4-values for quick service restaurants and supermarkets were 50 and 60%, respectively. Across European countries the same leading quick-service restaurants were identified, while this was not the case for supermarkets. Conclusions This study forms an important basis to understand key aspects of market structure of the European food industry, observing clear differences between food industries and European Single Market member states. This has potential implications for the implementation of food environment policies at different levels of jurisdiction.

The excess consumption of added sugars is associated with dental caries and an increased risk of chronic disease. Based on WHO recommendations, less than 10% of energy should come from free sugars; however, the current New Zealand (NZ) estimated intake exceeds this. Added sugar labelling is one tool to address this excess consumption. NZ only requires the declaration of total sugar on the Nutrition Information Panel (NIP). The 2022 P1058 FSANZ proposal on added sugar labelling on the NIP currently proposes a definition of added sugar that excludes processed fruit and vegetables. However, processed fruit (pastes, purees, pulps, and powders), in which the cell walls are no longer intact, is considered to be a free sugar by Public Health England. Therefore, a comprehensive definition that includes all types of added sugars to minimise the industry use of processed fruit and vegetables as sweeteners is needed. This research aimed to determine the proportion of packaged products in selected food categories that contain processed fruit and vegetables. We selected the four food product categories that were most likely to contain processed fruit, yet were often marketed as healthy: breakfast cereals, cereal bars, fruit bars, and yoghurts. Using the packaged food database Nutritrack, ingredient lists were searched for the presence of fruit or vegetable pastes, purees, pulps, and powders. Overall, 22.2% of breakfast cereals, 20.8% of cereal bars, 66.7% of fruit bars, and 13.9% of yoghurts contained at least one paste, puree, pulp, or powder. Puree was the most common form of processed fruit in all the categories except for breakfast cereals, where powder was the most common form. There was a minimal use of processed vegetables. These results suggest that a reasonable proportion of key packaged foods contain processed fruit, and given that these are high in free sugars, it should be included in the definition of added sugar to reduce industry use and enable consumers to identify lower-sugar options.

More and more packaged products in China have been labeled as low-calorie products since the official implementation of nutrition claims in 2007. But little was known about the impact of such claims on the Chinese consumption of low-calorie food on the background of increasing rates of obesity among the Chinese population. This study sought to fill the gap by applying a consumer behavior model to a nationally representative online survey by means of structural equation modeling. The findings revealed that nutrition claims significantly affect the consumption of low-calorie products. Specifically, marketing stimulus on low-calorie products first affected consumer psychology, then consumer decision-making, and finally consumer responses. Despite the significant role of consumer psychology and decision-making in consumption, consumers were susceptible to the influence of targeted marketing strategies for foods with a low-calorie claim. It is recommended that appropriate use of low-calorie nutrition claims by manufacturers and choices of low-calorie food by consumers according to their own needs should be encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The Australian federal government will soon release voluntary sodium reduction targets for 30 packaged food categories through the Healthy Food Partnership. Previous assessments of voluntary targets show variable industry engagement, and little is known about the extent that major food companies and their products contribute to dietary sodium purchases among Australian households. Methods The aim of this cross-sectional study was to identify the relative contribution that food companies and their products made to Australian household sodium purchases in 2018, and to examine differences in sodium purchases by household income level. We used 1 year of grocery purchase data from a nationally representative consumer panel of Australian households who reported their grocery purchases (the Nielsen Homescan panel), combined with database that contains product-specific sodium content for packaged foods and beverages (FoodSwitch). The top food companies and food categories were ranked according to their contribution to household sodium purchases. Differences in per capita sodium purchases by income levels were assessed by 1-factor ANOVA. All analyses were modelled to the Australian population in 2018 using sample weights. Results Sodium data were available from 7188 households who purchased 26,728 unique products and purchased just under 7.5 million food product units. Out of 1329 food companies, the top 10 accounted for 35% of unique products and contributed to 58% of all sodium purchased from packaged foods and beverages. The top three companies were grocery food retailers each contributing 12–15% of sodium purchases from sales of their private label products, particularly processed meat, cheese and bread. Out of the 67 food categories, the top 10 accounted for 73% of sodium purchased, particularly driven by purchases of processed meat (14%), bread (12%) and sauces (11%). Low-income Australian households purchased significantly more sodium from packaged products than high-income households per capita (452 mg/d, 95%CI: 363-540 mg/d, P

More and more packaged products in China have been labeled as low-calorie products since the official implementation of nutrition claims in 2007. But little was known about the impact of such claims on the Chinese consumption of low-calorie food on the background of increasing rates of obesity among the Chinese population. This study sought to fill the gap by applying a consumer behavior model to a nationally representative online survey by means of structural equation modeling. The findings revealed that nutrition claims significantly affect the consumption of low-calorie products. Specifically, marketing stimulus on low-calorie products first affected consumer psychology, then consumer decision-making, and finally consumer responses. Despite the significant role of consumer psychology and decision-making in consumption, consumers were susceptible to the influence of targeted marketing strategies for foods with a low-calorie claim. It is recommended that appropriate use of low-calorie nutrition claims by manufacturers and choices of low-calorie food by consumers according to their own needs should be encouraged.

In most African countries, the prevalence of industrially produced trans-fatty acids (iTFA) in the food supply is unknown. We estimated the number and proportion of products containing specific (any hydrogenated edible oils) and non-specific (vegetable fat, margarine, and vegetable cream) ingredients potentially indicative of iTFAs among pre-packaged foods collected in Kenya and Nigeria. We also summarized the number and proportion of products that reported trans-fatty acids levels and the range of reported trans-fatty acids levels. In total, 99 out of 5668 (1.7%) products in Kenya and 310 out of 6316 (4.9%) products in Nigeria contained specific ingredients indicative of iTFAs. Bread and bakery products and confectioneries in both countries had the most foods that contained iTFAs-indicative ingredients. A total of 656 products (12%) in Kenya and 624 products (10%) in Nigeria contained non-specific ingredients that may indicate the presence of iTFAs. The reporting of levels of trans-fatty acids was low in both Kenya and Nigeria (11% versus 26%, respectively, p < 0.001). With the increasing burden of ischemic heart disease in Kenya and Nigeria, the rapid adoption of WHO best-practice policies and the mandatory declaration of trans-fatty acids are important for eliminating iTFAs.

Objective: To estimate the proportion of products meeting Fiji government labelling regulations, assess compliance with national Na reformulation targets and examine the Na and total sugar levels in packaged foods sold in selected major supermarkets.Design: We selected five major supermarkets in 2018 and collected the product information and nutritional content from the labels of all packaged foods sold. We organised 4278 foods into fourteen major food categories and thirty-six sub-categories and recorded the proportion of products labelled in accordance with the Fiji labelling regulations. We looked at the levels of Na and total sugar in each food category and assessed how many products complied with the Fiji reformulation targets set for Na. We also listed the companies responsible for each product.Setting: Suva, Fiji.Results: Fourteen percentage of packaged foods in fourteen major categories met Fiji national labelling regulations. Na was labelled on 95·4 % products, and total sugar labelled on 92·4 %. The convenience foods category had the highest Na levels (1699 mg/100 g), while confectionery had the highest content of total sugar (52·6 g/100 g). Forty percentage of eligible products did not meet the proposed voluntary Na reformulation targets.Conclusions: Our findings indicate significant room for improvement in nutrient labelling, as well as a need for further enforcement of reformulation targets and monitoring of changes in food composition. Through enacting these measures and establishing additional regulations such as mandatory front-of-pack labelling, government and food industry can drive consumers towards healthier food choices and improve the nutritional quality of packaged foods in Fiji. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper prepared in the form of a book review is a review of the book written by Anna Zeide, assistant professor of Professional Practice at Oklahoma State University, entitled: Canned: The Rise and Fall of Consumer Confidence in the American Food Industry, published in 2018. The book is a part of the California Studies in Food and Culture Series of the publisher University of California Press, and is the winner of the James Beard Award for Reference, History & Scholarship for the year 2019, which is delivered by the James Beard Foundation, which has been promoting the food industry in the United States of America for already 30 years now, through scientific-research work, the development of the industry itself, the development of female leadership and leadership in general, as well as through other programs (James Beard Foundation, 2019).

Background: Food environments are influenced by food industries (packaged food and non-alcoholic beverage manufacturers; supermarkets and quick service restaurants). An important source of this influence is the significant market power held by a limited number of food companies. Market structure analysis, as part of a broader market power research agenda, has received limited attention from the public health community. The aim of this study was to analyse similarities and differences in market structure across countries and industries in the European Single Market. Methods: The companies with the largest market share at the national level for each industry were identified from Euromonitor sales data in 2017/18. The market structure was assessed by the following metrics: the number of global brand owners with ≥1% market share per country, the number of companies unique for one European Single Market member state, the most sold packaged food and non-alcoholic beverage categories, the number of quick-service restaurants and supermarkets per 1000 inhabitants and market concentration by means of the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) and the four firm concentration ratio (CR4). CR4-values > 40% and HHI-values > 2000 indicate concentrated markets with limited competition. Results: The leading packaged food and non-alcoholic beverage manufacturers and the most sold food and beverage product categories were similar across countries in Europe. The observed levels of concentration were however different. Average CR4-values ranged from 21 to 72% among packaged food product markets and 60 to 76% for non-alcoholic beverage product markets. Average CR4-values for quick service restaurants and supermarkets were 50 and 60%, respectively. Across European countries the same leading quick-service restaurants were identified, while this was not the case for supermarkets. Conclusions: This study forms an important basis to understand key aspects of market structure of the European food industry, observing clear differences between food industries and European Single Market member states. This has potential implications for the implementation of food environment policies at different levels of jurisdiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Australian federal government will soon release voluntary sodium reduction targets for 30 packaged food categories through the Healthy Food Partnership. Previous assessments of voluntary targets show variable industry engagement, and little is known about the extent that major food companies and their products contribute to dietary sodium purchases among Australian households. Methods: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to identify the relative contribution that food companies and their products made to Australian household sodium purchases in 2018, and to examine differences in sodium purchases by household income level. We used 1 year of grocery purchase data from a nationally representative consumer panel of Australian households who reported their grocery purchases (the Nielsen Homescan panel), combined with database that contains product-specific sodium content for packaged foods and beverages (FoodSwitch). The top food companies and food categories were ranked according to their contribution to household sodium purchases. Differences in per capita sodium purchases by income levels were assessed by 1-factor ANOVA. All analyses were modelled to the Australian population in 2018 using sample weights. Results: Sodium data were available from 7188 households who purchased 26,728 unique products and purchased just under 7.5 million food product units. Out of 1329 food companies, the top 10 accounted for 35% of unique products and contributed to 58% of all sodium purchased from packaged foods and beverages. The top three companies were grocery food retailers each contributing 12–15% of sodium purchases from sales of their private label products, particularly processed meat, cheese and bread. Out of the 67 food categories, the top 10 accounted for 73% of sodium purchased, particularly driven by purchases of processed meat (14%), bread (12%) and sauces (11%). Low-income Australian households purchased significantly more sodium from packaged products than high-income households per capita (452 mg/d, 95%CI: 363-540 mg/d, P < 0.001). Conclusions: A small number of food companies and food categories account for most of the dietary sodium purchased by Australian households. Prioritizing government engagement with these groups could deliver a large reduction in population sodium intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ultrashort pulse high electric field provides new biological applications, such as sterilization of a packaged food. In this study, we investigate the effect on yeast cells by a high-frequency and high-intensity burst pulse for the purpose of killing cells in packaged food. Previously, we showed that applying a burst pulse to cells was more effective in causing cell death than repeatedly supplying a single pulse. However, in case of a unipolar burst pulse, a low-frequency component caused by a burst pulsewidth was included in addition to the high-frequency component to be investigated. Therefore, it was not clear which frequency was effective in killing cells. Here, we investigate how the low-frequency component superposed on the high-frequency burst pulse affects cell death by comparing the unipolar burst pulse having the-low frequency component, the bipolar burst pulse not having the low-frequency component, and a single pulse that was the low-frequency component of the unipolar burst pulse. As a result, the cell death ratio was higher by applying 150-MHz band unipolar burst pulses including 150-MHz band as a high-frequency component and 15-MHz band as a low-frequency component to the cells than by applying bipolar burst pulses with only frequency component of 150-MHz band to the cells. Also, the cell death ratio was higher by applying the 150-MHz band unipolar burst pulses to the cells than by applying the 15-MHz band single pulse that was the low-frequency component of the 150-MHz band unipolar burst pulse to the cells. These results show that the burst pulse is possible in causing cell death more effectively by superposing low frequency on high frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the presence and classes of food additives in packaged foods labeled 'home-made'. Food identification information was collected by photographing food labels (n = 5,620); the ingredients lists were subsequently transcribed for analysis. The ingredients list (foods labeled 'home-made' and similar foods) were compared regarding the presence and classes of additives (function) using the chi-square test and regarding the median number of additives using the Mann–Whitney test. For all tests, p <.05 was used as the significance level. We evaluated 65 products labeled 'home-made' and 172 comparable conventional products. Seventy-nine percent (n = 188) of all products (n = 237) contained additives. There was no significant difference between the percentage of foods with the 'home-made' claim (81%) and those without (78%) regarding the presence of additives (p =.605). No significant difference was observed in the median number of additives (p =.61) and in the number of classes of additives (p =.79) between foods with and without the claim. It can contribute globally to the reflection and the creation of public policies for the elaboration of criteria for the use or prohibition of the use of "home-made" claims on labels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Convenience food industry has shown a rapid growth in India in the last few years. Now a days they are very much in demand and is growing at a rapid rate. These foods are saviour for busy and working people. They have been widely accepted by the non-working people as well. Due to fast and busy life, consumption pattern of people is drifting from raw food to convenience foods. Convenience foods are overly processed food which saves the preparation and cooking time of food in the kitchen.. Young generation children are more likely to consume packaged food as they give great aroma, texture and taste. These foods determine the food choices and consumption pattern of the consumers. Urbanisation and the changing lifestyle has a huge role in increasing the demand of such food items. They are gaining immense popularity in the food industry, global food market and among the food scientists. In the past few years convenience food has shown a remarkable growth in the food market . This present study aims at studying the consumption pattern of convenience food in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the influence of current food and nutrition trends on dietitians' perceptions of the healthiness of packaged foods.Design: This observational study used a cross-sectional survey. Participants rated (strongly disagree to strongly agree) the extent to which a range of factors, independent of the energy, nutrient and ingredient content, influenced their perceptions of the healthiness of packaged foods. Two open-ended questions allowed for participants to list additional items they considered important.Setting: Online survey.Participants: Australian dietitians (n 117).Results: The greatest consensus was a positive influence of the fit within the core food groups and presence of seasonal ingredients, and a negative influence of an increasing number of additives. Mixed opinions were obtained for GM ingredients, locally sourced ingredients, labelling of animal welfare and organic certification. Nutritional indicators received a split where almost half of participants disagreed/strongly disagreed that they positively influenced their perception of healthiness. Content analysis of open-ended responses (n 53, 45 %) revealed four broad categories as important in considering healthiness: 'a whole food approach', 'marketing and labelling', 'product information' and 'context of diet'. A small number of responses (count of 6, 5 %) reported that packaging, advertising and features such as celebrity endorsement were a negative influence.Conclusions: Dietitians have a broad concept of the healthiness of packaged foods, which incorporates elements of food safety, wholeness of the ingredients and marketing. Providing unified messages to the consumer can help to build the public perception of dietitians as experts in nutrition advice and counselling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Reducing sugar in packaged foods and beverages could help protect children's future health. Clear methods for the development of feasible yet impactful sugar reduction program targets are needed. Objectives To outline methods for the development of program targets that would reduce, by 20%, the total sugar content of packaged foods and beverages commonly consumed by children. New Zealand (NZ) is used as a case study. Methods Sugar content and pack size targets were developed using a 6-step process informed by the UK sugar and salt reduction programs. Food groups contributing ≥2% to children's total sugar intake were identified using national dietary survey data. Consumption volume, sugar content, and pack size were obtained from household panel data linked with a packaged food composition database. Category-specific targets were set as 20% reductions in sales-weighted means adjusted for feasibility, i.e., ∼1/3 of products already meeting the target, and alignment with existing, relevant targets. Results Twenty-two food groups were identified as major contributors to NZ children's total sugar intake. Mean reductions required in sugar content and pack size to meet the targets were 5.2 g  per 100 g/mL (26%) and 61.2 g/mL/pack (23%), respectively. The percentage of products already meeting the sugar targets ranged from 14% for electrolyte drinks and flavored dairy milk to 50% for cereal bars, and for pack size targets compliance ranged from 32% for chocolate confectionary to 62% for fruit juices and drinks. Estimated reductions in annual household sugar purchases if the sugar and pack size targets were met were 1459 g (23%) and 286 g (6%), respectively. Conclusions Methods for the development of sugar and pack size reduction targets are presented, providing a robust, step-by-step process for countries to follow. The results of the case study provide a suggested benchmark for a potential national sugar reduction program in NZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of Kansei/Affective Engineering System in product development, particularly durable goods, has inspired the development of similar methodology, especially for food products which called Food Kansei Engineering or simplified as Food Kansei Model. However, there are opportunities to develop Food Kansei Model as a methodology. This paper proposed a conceptual model development of the Food Kansei Model, particularly for packaging of packed food product group. Food Kansei Model considers packaging only as an extrinsic attribute of a product. Hence, aim of this paper was to develop a conceptual model that considered the packaging as both intrinsic and extrinsic attributes of the packed food products. The proposed model was developed by reviewing literature and updating the schematic diagram of intrinsic and extrinsic attributes of the current model. Packaging as an intrinsic attribute was defined by structural components of the package (package material, shape and size), which serve to establish product appearance. Graphic elements on the package (colour, picture, symbol, typography) were categorized as extrinsic attribute. Even though they served as extrinsic attributes, these components play the key role as perceptual factors. Verbal elements of the package were product extrinsic components, which presented direct information for consumers. The information on the package, along with the other extrinsic attributes (price, product name, image of the shop where the product is sold, presentation, salesperson's impression, promotion) served as a cognitive factor of pleasantness. Overall, packaging was an integral part of the product, as emphasized in the total product concept. Therefore, based on the proposed model, the packaging design which considered intrinsic and extrinsic attributes affect perception that provided more pleasantness to the consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The food supply in India is moving towards more processed and packaged foods. • The diverse population needs nutrition labels suitable for varying literacy levels. • A 2-colour traffic light front-of-pack label was found to be most effective. • The 2-colour label performed best across understanding and choice outcomes. The most populous country in the world, India, is experiencing a nutrition transition that involves rapidly increasing prevalence of unhealthy packaged foods. To assist consumers in making healthier packaged food choices, the Government of India is in the process of designing and implementing a new front-of-pack nutrition labelling system. The aim of this study was to provide insights into the types of labels that may be most effective across the diverse Indian population. A multi-method data collection process was employed that involved 16 focus groups (n = 112 adult participants) and a survey administered to 1,270 adults. The assessed outcome variables were objective understanding, food choice, and perceptions of labels. The five front-of-pack nutrition labels tested in the experimental survey were 2-colour and 3-colour versions of the Multiple Traffic Lights label, a colour version of the Health Star Rating label, a smiley face version of the Nutri-Score label, and red Warning Labels. All five assessed front-of-pack nutrition labels produced favourable effects for objective understanding, choice, and perception outcomes, but the 2-colour Multiple Traffic Lights label performed best across both objective understanding and choice outcomes. The results highlight the importance of including colour as an interpretation aid in the new front-of-pack nutrition label to be introduced in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper prepared in the form of a book review is a review of the book written by Anna Zeide, assistant professor of Professional Practice at Oklahoma State University, entitled: Canned: The Rise and Fall of Consumer Confidence in the American Food Industry, published in 2018. The book is a part of the California Studies in Food and Culture Series of the publisher University of California Press, and is the winner of the James Beard Award for Reference, History & Scholarship for the year 2019, which is delivered by the James Beard Foundation, which has been promoting the food industry in the United States of America for already 30 years now, through scientific-research work, the development of the industry itself, the development of female leadership and leadership in general, as well as through other programs (James Beard Foundation, 2019).

Summary: We compared the healthiness of packaged foods and beverages between selected countries using the Health Star Rating (HSR) nutrient profiling system. Packaged food and beverage data collected 2013–2018 were obtained for Australia, Canada, Chile, China, India, Hong Kong, Mexico, New Zealand, Slovenia, South Africa, the UK, and USA. Each product was assigned to a food or beverage category and mean HSR was calculated overall by category and by country. Median energy density (kJ/100 g), saturated fat (g/100 g), total sugars (g/100 g) and sodium (mg/100 g) contents were calculated. Countries were ranked by mean HSR and median nutrient levels. Mean HSR for all products (n = 394,815) was 2.73 (SD 1.38) out of 5.0 (healthiest profile). The UK, USA, Australia and Canada ranked highest for overall nutrient profile (HSR 2.74–2.83) and India, Hong Kong, China and Chile ranked lowest (HSR 2.27–2.44). Countries with higher overall HSR generally ranked better with respect to nutrient levels. India ranked consistently in the least healthy third for all measures. There is considerable variability in the healthiness of packaged foods and beverages in different countries. The finding that packaged foods and beverages are less healthy in middle‐income countries such as China and India suggests that nutrient profiling is an important tool to enable policymakers and industry actors to reformulate products available in the marketplace to reduce the risk of obesity and NCDs among populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, people consume high amount of packaged foods. The US Environmental Protection Agency encourages buying packaged products that have a reduced impact on the environment, however, the literature discussing the environmental impact of food packaging is scarce. Therefore, our goal was to perform an assessment of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the materials used for the packaging of foods, and to determine whether the size of the products, the main material used, and the commercial brand have any effect on this. We also studied the relative contribution of the packaging compared with the food production. Additionally, we checked the generalizability of our findings in relation to other environmental impacts. We performed life cycle analyses of the primary packaging materials used in six frequently consumed packaged breakfast products, produced in three different sizes, with three diverse packaging materials and by three brands. Data were reported per serving. For any food product, we observed a significant difference in GHG emissions per serving according to packaging size, packaging materials and commercial brand. The environmental impact of the packaging was constantly lower than that from the food production. The same trends could be observed for other environmental impacts. Altogether, when selecting sustainable packaged foods, food production is of primary importance, but one cannot underestimate the impact of different packaging sizes, materials and brands. Unlabelled Image • Packaged foods are increasingly consumed in western societies. • Literature aimed at environmental impact of food packaging is scarce. • Environmental impact of packaging depends on size, material and commercial brand. • Packaging is less contaminant than food production. • The overall eco-friendliest product depends on consumption patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed the use of current guideline daily amount (GDA) label and consumers' ability to read GDA, compared with GDA-plus labels (green colour–coded GDA [GGDA], GDA label with text [GDAT] and green colour–coded GDA label with text [GGDAT]) in Thailand. This is a cross-sectional study. We interviewed individuals at 23 major supermarkets across the country in March 2015. We used a mixed multivariate logistic regression model to identify factors associated with the ability to make healthier choices when reading front-of-pack (FoP) labels. Of 1364 participants, only 11% claimed to read the GDA label every time; those who did not read the main reason was that it was not understandable or attractive. In total, 65%, 62%, 61% and 39% were able to read GDAT, GGDAT, GGDA and GDA labels, respectively. When reading GGDA, GDAT and GGDAT labels, participants were 2.91 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.45, 3.45), 3.59 (95% CI: 3.01, 4.28) and 3.13 (95% CI: 2.63, 3.72) times more likely to choose healthier food choices compared with having read an ordinary GDA label. Participants who were exposed to food selection guidelines were more likely to make healthier food choices when reading FoP labels with different odds depending on sources of information. Participants who recognized the link between diet and non-communicable diseases were 1.21 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.44) times more likely to choose healthier food choices. No sociodemographic characteristics were significantly statistically associated with the ability to choose healthier food choices when adjusted for diet-related knowledge and FoP formats. Use and understanding of GDA are still low, mainly because GDA is incomprehensible and unattractive. Interpretive FoP formats tend to be more understandable and need less complementary public campaigns compared with non-interpretive formats. • Packaged food is frequently consumed by Thai consumers. • In Thailand, use and understanding of current GDA label are still low even among higher social class and educated people. • The main reason for not reading the label is that the format is incomprehensible and unattractive. • Interpretive FoP formats are more understandable compared to GDA format. • An understandable format is a key enabling factor of FoP label use and understanding. • GDA label incorporation with public campaigns is not as effective as interpretive labels without public campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) coated with acrylic/polyvinylidene chloride (BOPPAcPVDC) and biaxially oriented coextruded polypropylene (BOPPcoex) films have been treated with high power ultrasound (HPUS) while submerged in water. Polymer structure and the surface morphology changes were noticed, and obtained results were correlated with the physical properties of tested materials. In anticipation of sonochemically enhanced reactions, physical-chemical profile of film samples was determined using thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, UV spectrophotometry and environmental scanning electron microscopy. HPUS-treated samples showed better thermal stability than untreated ones. BOPPAcPVDC samples sonicated for a period of 2 and 6 min and amplitudes 50 and 100% showed higher thermal stability as compared to the untreated one. BOPPcoex film surface change occurred after ultrasonic treatment of 6 min and 100% amplitude which was also attributed to the phenomenon of formation of crystalline cluster on the film surface. The implications of the results are used as possibility of HPUS treatment of packaged food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutrient profiling systems, initially designed to promote healthy food choices at the point of sale, can also provide the scientific basis for innovation and product reformulation by the food industry. This work presents a new profiling system to help define feasible nutrient targets for reformulation of packaged foods. The focus is on five key nutrients for which the World Health Organisation (WHO) has set population-level goals: sugar, saturated fat, sodium, fiber, and protein. The methodology uses Mintel’s Global New Products Database of packaged foods to (1) identify nutrients relevant to each food category (2) sort products into sub-categories defined by a unique nutritional signature, and (3) develop standards for “best of class” products. For instance, if targeted to be amongst the best 15% of the global food supply, pizza must have less than 4.0 g/100 g saturated fat, less than 520 mg/100 g total sodium and more than 9.8 g/100 g protein. Fiber and sugar are not identified as relevant nutrients for the pizza category and no targets are provided.

Labels are consumer’s information and when they are well presented allow choices to be made more thoroughly. The access to information must meet the requirements of laws and encourages investments by industries to improve the nutritional profile of products. The accuracy of the information presented by the food label should be guaranteed in order that the label supports consumers in their choices and health professionals in guidance for diet composition. Thus, a label that meets the requirements of the laws, which bring information legible, clear and reliable is essential in foods. The present study aimed to evaluate the compliance of the labeling of 46 different samples of UHT milk sold in the city of Rio de Janeiro – RJ, Brazil compared to current legislation. Products labels were evaluated in their entirety both the main display and the secondary display in accordance with Brazilian law requirements and constant legal specifications. None of the samples showed the label completely in accordance with the laws in force, demonstrating the necessity of the existence of a more intense supervision to ensure that the information on the labels are easily visible, reliable and enlightening.

Decreasing population sodium intake has been identified as a “best buy” for reducing non-communicable disease. The aim of this study was to explore 10-year changes in the sodium content of New Zealand processed foods. Nutrient data for nine key food groups were collected in supermarkets in 2003 (n = 323) and 2013 (n = 885). Mean (SD) and median (min, max) sodium content were calculated by food group, year and label type (private/branded). Paired t-tests explored changes in sodium content for all products available for sale in both years (matched; n = 182). The mean (SD) sodium content of all foods was 436 (263) mg (100 g)−1 in 2003 and 433 (304) mg (100 g)−1 in 2013, with no significant difference in matched products over time (mean (SD) difference, −56 (122) mg (100 g)−1, 12%; p = 0.22). The largest percentage reductions in sodium (for matched products) were observed for Breakfast Cereals (28%; −123 (125) mg (100 g)−1), Canned Spaghetti (15%; −76 (111) mg (100 g)−1) and Bread (14%; −68 (69) mg (100 g)−1). The reduction in sodium was greater for matched private vs. branded foods (−69 vs. −50 mg (100 g)−1, both p < 0.001). There has been modest progress with sodium reduction in some New Zealand food categories over the past 10 years. A renewed focus across the whole food supply is needed if New Zealand is to meet its global commitment to reducing population sodium intake.

India is one of the fastest growing economy which has large youth population. The consumerism is increasing with purchasing power parity and therefore marketers want to take its advantage. In recent times, lot of International Brands are fighting and lobbying to get into the Indian market. As the number of brands is being added every day, the consumers get confused what to buy? Consumer loyalty is decreasing; so it becomes imperative for a brand to stand apart in the crowd every time to attract customer in this competitive market. The onus comes to advertising, as they very well know that they can't fight much on product and prices but on emotions of the consumers. Also, time and again many researches have proven that emotion is the crucial mediator in deciding upon the attitude and purchase decision of the product. In this study we have studied the impact of emotional advertising on the purchase of packaged food by young population of India. Young population is called as Millennials (people born between 1982-2000) and have different emotional personality traits than their older generation, so it is important to study impact of emotional advertising on them in the era of Smart marketing using smart devices. Moreover, in this era people have also become equipped and smart with smart devices, they are always bombarded with lots of information and content, but marketers being smarter have been using that space also to influence emotions of consumers through emotional advertising. In this study data is collected through structured questionnaire, on the basis of self- reporting through recall and tell (video ads), from millennials of India who belongs to different social class & income group, different educational background. Data is analysed by using T-test, Mann Whitney and ANOVA using SPSS [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the potential of export items in Malaysia by investigating the awareness and preference for Korean food products. A high potential product list developed from the literature, included reports about the food export status in Korea and Malaysian food trends. An online survey was carried out with 600 consumers in Malaysia. With 435 valid responses, the average awareness of the Korean food products was 3.13, and the preference was 3.48 on a 5-point scale. The awareness and preference of Korean food products were higher in the 20s-30s group than in the older groups. In particular, the Muslim group had a higher awareness for ‘ramyon’ than the other groups, and the Buddhist group had a higher preference for ‘ginseng beverage’ than the other groups. The most well-known and preferred products were ramyon, hot noodles, kimchi, biscuits, fruits & vegetable beverage, and sauce (with Korean traditional sauce)’. Based on these results, the marketing implications of the study findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Reformulation strategies to reduce the energy, salt, sugar, total fat, and saturated fat content of packaged food are one means to improve the food offer and facilitate healthier food choices. In Germany, the "National Reduction and Innovation Strategy for Sugar, Fats, and Salt", which runs from 2019 to 2025, is accompanied by a yearly product monitoring of packaged food. The product monitoring focuses on food categories with a major contribution to dietary intake of sugar, total and saturated fat, and salt, and on products targeted at children. Nutrition labelling information taken from manufacturer's websites serves as the primary data source and is collected manually. Analyses include the current energy, salt, sugar, total fat, and saturated fat content as well as changes of energy and nutrient content over time at the level of food categories and subcategories. Monitoring results are presented on a yearly basis for the comprehensive product range and, for selected product categories, for top-selling products. Differences in data collection and evaluation methods and limited information about the approaches taken by others hinder the comparison with further national monitoring approaches in Europe. Ongoing research projects related to the German monitoring of packaged food seek to a) automate the German data collection and b) harmonize the monitoring across Europe. • Declared energy, total fat, saturated fat, sugar, and salt content of packaged food in Germany is monitored annually. • Child-targeted food products are considered separately. • Changes in energy and nutrients are analysed over time by categories and subcategories. • Monitoring methods vary across Europe, which hampers the comparison of the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]