Page 194 - Petelin, Ana, et al. 2019. Eds. Zdravje otrok in mladostnikov / Health of Children and Adolescents. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press
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avje otrok in mladostnikov | health of children and adolescents 192 Introduction
Food industry is constantly developing and with rising new technologies
many new products come to market every year. The number of food products
in different categories increases, and consumers are becoming more and more
confused in their everyday choices. In various activities within Slovene con-
sumers’ association (ZPS), we have been testing (www.zps.si) and evaluating
(www.potrosnikovzoom.si) products from different food categories on Sloveni-
an market for more than 20 years, and have noticed a significant variability in
products quality and nutrition profile. Even though nutrition labelling is man-
datory and consumers have an option to choose, they are not well educated and
empowered to distinguish the difference between similar products, based on
their ingredients and nutrition table. To support informed choice, ZPS uses dif-
ferent strategies, including recently upgraded “Veš kaj ješ” (Do you know what
you eat) mobile application (VKJ app) and www.veskajjes.si web page, that are
especially developed for younger consumers.
Nutrition labelling
Nutrition labelling is regulated with Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the pro-
vision of food information to consumers and is mandatory for majority of pre-
packed products in all European countries since 2016. Information on products
label acts as it’s ID and enables consumers to differ between products based on
their energy value and macronutrient content, beside other information such
as ingredients, products origin etc.
Nutrition labelling as a tool to promote healthy eating
Nutrition labelling may be an effective approach to empowering consumers in
choosing healthier products (Cecchini et al., 2016). It reduces consumer dietary
intake of selected nutrients and influences industry practices to reduce product
contents of sugar, sodium and artificial trans-fat (Shangguan et al., 2019). Us-
ing food labels is associated with healthier diets and should continue to be pro-
moted through policies and education programs (Anatasiou et al, 2019). Cris-
toph et al. (2017) did a population-based survey among young adults (N=1475)
and found that while nutrition label use was cross-sectionally associated with
markers of better dietary quality, only just over a third of participants surveyed
used labels frequently. Those who were female, younger, had higher education
and income, were overweight, physically active, and prepared food regularly at
home reported more frequent label usage. There is a need to educate all con-
sumers with focus on specific target groups, and provide them with an easy to
use and informative tool to help them understand the importance of nutrition
composition and reading labels.
Many studies show that use of interpretive labels, as traffic light scheme,
may be even more effective than standard “back of pack” nutrition table (Cec-
chini et al., 2016, Dawn et al., 2015), and may help the consumers to notice, read
Food industry is constantly developing and with rising new technologies
many new products come to market every year. The number of food products
in different categories increases, and consumers are becoming more and more
confused in their everyday choices. In various activities within Slovene con-
sumers’ association (ZPS), we have been testing (www.zps.si) and evaluating
(www.potrosnikovzoom.si) products from different food categories on Sloveni-
an market for more than 20 years, and have noticed a significant variability in
products quality and nutrition profile. Even though nutrition labelling is man-
datory and consumers have an option to choose, they are not well educated and
empowered to distinguish the difference between similar products, based on
their ingredients and nutrition table. To support informed choice, ZPS uses dif-
ferent strategies, including recently upgraded “Veš kaj ješ” (Do you know what
you eat) mobile application (VKJ app) and www.veskajjes.si web page, that are
especially developed for younger consumers.
Nutrition labelling
Nutrition labelling is regulated with Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the pro-
vision of food information to consumers and is mandatory for majority of pre-
packed products in all European countries since 2016. Information on products
label acts as it’s ID and enables consumers to differ between products based on
their energy value and macronutrient content, beside other information such
as ingredients, products origin etc.
Nutrition labelling as a tool to promote healthy eating
Nutrition labelling may be an effective approach to empowering consumers in
choosing healthier products (Cecchini et al., 2016). It reduces consumer dietary
intake of selected nutrients and influences industry practices to reduce product
contents of sugar, sodium and artificial trans-fat (Shangguan et al., 2019). Us-
ing food labels is associated with healthier diets and should continue to be pro-
moted through policies and education programs (Anatasiou et al, 2019). Cris-
toph et al. (2017) did a population-based survey among young adults (N=1475)
and found that while nutrition label use was cross-sectionally associated with
markers of better dietary quality, only just over a third of participants surveyed
used labels frequently. Those who were female, younger, had higher education
and income, were overweight, physically active, and prepared food regularly at
home reported more frequent label usage. There is a need to educate all con-
sumers with focus on specific target groups, and provide them with an easy to
use and informative tool to help them understand the importance of nutrition
composition and reading labels.
Many studies show that use of interpretive labels, as traffic light scheme,
may be even more effective than standard “back of pack” nutrition table (Cec-
chini et al., 2016, Dawn et al., 2015), and may help the consumers to notice, read
