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Measuring the Healthiness of Ready-to-Eat Child-Targeted Cereals: Evaluation of the FoodSwitch Platform in Sweden.
- Source :
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JMIR mHealth and uHealth [JMIR Mhealth Uhealth] 2021 Jul 22; Vol. 9 (7), pp. e17780. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Jul 22. - Publication Year :
- 2021
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Abstract
- Background: Childhood obesity is a major public health issue. The increase in the consumption of foods with poor nutritional value, such as processed foods, contributes to this. Breakfast cereals are often advertised as a healthy way to start the day, but the healthiness of these products varies greatly.<br />Objective: Our main objective was to gather information about the nutritional characteristics of ready-to-eat breakfast cereals in Sweden and to investigate the healthiness of products targeted at children compared to other cereals by use of the FoodSwitch platform. A secondary objective was to evaluate the alignment between the Keyhole symbol and the Health Star Rating.<br />Methods: The FoodSwitch app is a mobile health (mHealth) tool used to present nutrition data and healthier alternative products to consumers. Ready-to-eat breakfast cereals from the largest Swedish grocery retailers were collected using the FoodSwitch platform. Products were defined as targeting children if they presented features addressing children on the package.<br />Results: Overall, information on 261 ready-to-eat cereals was examined. Of this total, 8% (n=21) were targeted at children. Child-targeted cereals were higher in sugar (22.3 g/100 g vs 12.8 g/100 g, P<.001) and lower in fiber (6.2 g/100 g vs 9.8 g/100 g, P<.001) and protein (8.1 g/100 g vs 10.5 g/100 g, P<.001). Total fat (3 g/100 g vs 10.5 g/100 g, P<.001) and saturated fat (0.8 g/100 g vs 2.6 g/100 g, P<.001) were also lower. No difference was found in salt content (P=.61). Fewer child-targeted breakfast cereals displayed an on-pack Keyhole label (n=1, 5% vs n=53, 22%; P=.06), and the mean Health Star Rating value was 3.5 for child-targeted cereals compared to others (mean 3.8, P=.07). A correlation was found between the Keyhole symbol and the Health Star Rating.<br />Conclusions: Ready-to-eat breakfast cereals targeted at children were less healthy in terms of sugar and fiber content compared to products not targeted at children. There is a need to improve the nutritional quality of child-targeted cereals.<br /> (©Antoine Mottas, Veli-Matti Lappi, Johan Sundström, Bruce Neal, Cliona Ni Mhurchu, Marie Löf, Karin Rådholm. Originally published in JMIR mHealth and uHealth (https://mhealth.jmir.org), 22.07.2021.)
- Subjects :
- Child
Humans
Nutritional Status
Nutritive Value
Sweden
Breakfast
Edible Grain
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2291-5222
- Volume :
- 9
- Issue :
- 7
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- JMIR mHealth and uHealth
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 34292165
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.2196/17780