Nutrient profile labelling: consumers’ perceptions in Germany and Belgium

Growing consumer interest in food and health has motivated the European food industry to provide more simple information on the nutritional composition of foods. In addition to the traditional back-of-pack nutrition table, simplified front-of-pack labels have been introduced by the food industry to allow consumers making better informed and healthier food choices. In this paper, consumers’ perceptions of simplified nutrition information, namely Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) and Traffic light (TL), in Germany and Belgium are explored. Surveys in Germany (147 respondents) and Belgium (128 respondents) were conducted in 2008. Data were analysed by means of descriptive statistics and regression analysis. In both countries, the GDA is the most widely used simplified nutrition label. Whereas most consumers in Belgium indicate a preference for the GDA, in Germany the Traffic light is favoured most. Regression analyses indicate that the predilection for the different labels is affected by sociodemographic characteristics and perceptions towards the respective labels. European nutrition policy makers should be aware of regional differences regarding the perception of simplified nutrition labels. The challenge for international food industries is therefore to raise awareness of the potential function of simplified labels in making informed and healthy food choices among different European consumer groups.Nutrient profile labelling, Nutrition policy, European food industry, Consumer survey., Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

The nutritional and toxicological value of organic vegetables : consumer perception versus scientific evidence

Purpose - The present study aims to explore and compare consumer perception and scientific evidence related to food quality and food safety aspects of organic versus conventional vegetables. Design/methodology/approach - Primary data on consumer perception were gathered in 2006-2007 through a consumer survey with Flemish adults (n = 529) and compared with scientific evidence from literature. Consumers of organic and conventional vegetables were selected by means of a convenience sampling procedure. Subjects were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire concerning the perception of the nutritional and toxicological value of organic relative to conventional vegetables. Data processing and analysis included descriptive analysis (frequency distributions), data reduction (Cronbach's alpha test, factor analysis), bivariate analysis (correlations, t-test, ANOVA) and multivariate analysis (stepwise multiple regression). Findings - It was found that organic vegetables are perceived as containing less contaminants and more nutrients, and as such, being healthier and safer compared to conventional vegetables. However, not enough evidence is currently available in the literature to support or refute such a perception, indicating a certain mismatch between consumer perception and scientific evidence. The gap between perception and evidence is larger among older consumers with children. The perception is stronger when the consumption frequency is higher, but is independent of gender, place of residence (rural or urban), education and income level. Also non-users, on average, perceive that organic vegetables have a nutritional and toxicological advantage over conventional vegetables. Research limitations/implications - A non-probability convenience sampling method was applied which limits generalisation of the findings beyond the sample characteristics. Originality/value - This paper is original in comparing consumer perception and scientific facts related to both nutritional and safety aspects of organic versus conventional vegetables

Improved solvent extraction procedure and HPLC-ELSD method for analysis of polar lipids from dairy materials

A normal phase HPLC-ELSD method which was improved from the method of Rombaut et al. 2005 (J. Dairy Sci. 88(2):482-488) for analysis of polar lipids (PLs) is presented. In the improved method, the mobile phase consisted of two lines; dichloromethane and a mixture of methanol and acetic acid/triethylamine buffer. Dichloromethane is less toxic than chloroform which was used in the old method. PLs of interest such as glycolipids, phospholipids and sphingomyelin were well separated with a total time for one analysis run of 22.5 min. Peak retention times and peak area were reproducible due to a good miscibility of mobile phases. The improved HPLC-ELSD method was applicable for both PLs from soy lecithin and dairy materials. Furthermore, a modified solvent extraction method of PLs from dairy matrices was adapted. The modified method offered higher extraction efficiency, consumed less time and in some cases saved solvent use

Intake of fat-soluble vitamins in the Belgian population : adequacy and contribution of foods, fortified foods and supplements

A key challenge of public health nutrition is to provide the majority of the population with a sufficient level of micronutrients while preventing high-consumers from exceeding the tolerable upper intake level. Data of the 2014 Belgian food consumption survey (n = 3200) were used to assess fat-soluble vitamin (vitamins A, D, E and K) intake from the consumption of foods, fortified foods and supplements. This study revealed inadequate intakes for vitamin A, from all sources, in the entire Belgian population and possible inadequacies for vitamin D. The prevalence of inadequate intake of vitamin A was lowest in children aged 3-6 (6-7%) and highest in adolescents (girls, 26%; boys, 34-37%). Except for women aged 60-64 years, more than 95% of the subjects had vitamin D intake from all sources below the adequate intake (AI) of 15 mu g/day. The risk for inadequate intake of vitamins K and E was low (median > AI). Belgian fortification and supplementation practices are currently inadequate to eradicate suboptimal intakes of vitamins A and D, but increase median vitamin E intake close to the adequate intake. For vitamin A, a small proportion (1-4%) of young children were at risk of exceeding the upper intake level (UL), while for vitamin D, inclusion of supplements slightly increased the risk for excessive intakes (% > UL) in adult women and young children. The results may guide health authorities when developing population health interventions and regulations to ensure adequate intake of fat-soluble vitamins in Belgium

Untargeted metabolomics to reveal red versus white meat‐associated gut metabolites in a prudent and western dietary context

Scope: To improve understanding of the epidemiological link between red and processed meat consumption and chronic diseases, more insight in the formation of metabolites during meat digestion is warranted.Methods and results: Untargeted MS-based metabolomics was applied to explore the impact of red and processed meat consumption (compared to chicken), combined with a prudent or Western dietary pattern. A pig feeding study (n=32), as a sentinel for humans, was conducted in a 2×2 factorial design for four weeks. The luminal content of the small intestine and colon of the pigs were collected to determine their metabolic fingerprints. Seventy-six unique metabolites (38 in small intestine, 32 in colon, and 6 in both intestinal compartments) contributing tothe distinct gut metabolic profiles of pigs fed either chicken or red and processed meat were (tentatively) identified. Consumption of red and processed meat resulted in higher levels of short-and medium-chain acylcarnitines and 3-dehydroxycarnitine, irrespective of dietary context, whereas long-chain acylcarnitines and monoacylglycerols were specifically associated with the red and processed-Western diet.Conclusion: The identification of red and processed meat-associated gut metabolites in this study contributes to the understanding of meat digestion in a complex but controlled dietary context and its potential health effect