Page 93 - 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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Evaluation of the nutrient profiles
of foods targeting children
Nina Križnik1, Petra Ožbolt1, Gašper Klemenčič2, Nika Kremić3
1 University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Jamnikarjeva ulica 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
2 University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Education, Kardeljeva ploščad 16, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
3 Slovene Consumers’ Association, Frankopanska ulica 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Abstract
Problem presentation: With their products and product presentation,
food industry has a significant impact on people’s eating habits. Children
are a particularly vulnerable group, as they are often encouraged
by food industry to buy and eat food with an unhealthy nutritional
profile. Purpose: In our study we have analysed the nutritional profile
of randomly selected foods targeting children with packaging, from
nine nutritional categories. The nutritional profile of each individual
foodstuff was assessed using Nutritional Guidelines to form codes of
conduct in protecting children against inappropriate advertising and
traffic light labelling. Findings: Results showed that less than a fifth of the
examined food products are suitable for children’s diet according to the
guidelines. Only foods from four categories, which includes nine meat
products, four products from a group of cheeses, two beverages and one
dairy spread could be promoted. Our research therefor concludes that
mainly foods with high content of sugar, fat or salt (red light on a traffic
light), are targeted to children and are therefore not suitable for daily
consumption. We believe that described problem could be resolved by
socially more responsible behaviour of the industry and by improvement
of nutritional literacy of children and their parents.
Key words: children, nutritional profile, children’s diet, food industry
Introduction
With their products and advertising, food industry has a significant impact on
people’s eating habits. Children as a particularly vulnerable group are often ad-
dressed by advertisers to buy and eat foods with an unhealthy nutrient pro-
file (Šinkovec and Gabrijelčič Blenkuš, 2010; World Health Organization, 2013).
Our study included analysing nutrient profile of 90 randomly selected foods,
of foods targeting children
Nina Križnik1, Petra Ožbolt1, Gašper Klemenčič2, Nika Kremić3
1 University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Jamnikarjeva ulica 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
2 University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Education, Kardeljeva ploščad 16, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
3 Slovene Consumers’ Association, Frankopanska ulica 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Abstract
Problem presentation: With their products and product presentation,
food industry has a significant impact on people’s eating habits. Children
are a particularly vulnerable group, as they are often encouraged
by food industry to buy and eat food with an unhealthy nutritional
profile. Purpose: In our study we have analysed the nutritional profile
of randomly selected foods targeting children with packaging, from
nine nutritional categories. The nutritional profile of each individual
foodstuff was assessed using Nutritional Guidelines to form codes of
conduct in protecting children against inappropriate advertising and
traffic light labelling. Findings: Results showed that less than a fifth of the
examined food products are suitable for children’s diet according to the
guidelines. Only foods from four categories, which includes nine meat
products, four products from a group of cheeses, two beverages and one
dairy spread could be promoted. Our research therefor concludes that
mainly foods with high content of sugar, fat or salt (red light on a traffic
light), are targeted to children and are therefore not suitable for daily
consumption. We believe that described problem could be resolved by
socially more responsible behaviour of the industry and by improvement
of nutritional literacy of children and their parents.
Key words: children, nutritional profile, children’s diet, food industry
Introduction
With their products and advertising, food industry has a significant impact on
people’s eating habits. Children as a particularly vulnerable group are often ad-
dressed by advertisers to buy and eat foods with an unhealthy nutrient pro-
file (Šinkovec and Gabrijelčič Blenkuš, 2010; World Health Organization, 2013).
Our study included analysing nutrient profile of 90 randomly selected foods,
