nutrition labelling and prevention of high blood pressure

Nutrition Labelling and Nutrition Labelling and Prevention of High Blood PressurePrevention of High Blood Pressure

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High Blood PressureHigh Blood Pressure

According to a local survey conducted in 2003/2004, about 1 in 3 men and 1 in 4 women in Hong Kong have high blood pressure.

People with high blood pressure may not know at its early stage of development and yet untreated high blood pressure can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, etc.

1 in 3 men havehigh blood pressure -

1 in 4 women have high blood pressure -

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Dietary Modifications for High Dietary Modifications for High Blood Pressure PreventionBlood Pressure Prevention

Lower the intake of sodium can reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure.

Lower the intake of saturated fat and trans fat can reduce the risk of developing heart diseases.

Choose foods with lower energy, fat and sugars contents for those who are overweight.

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Preventing High Blood Pressure Preventing High Blood Pressure and Nutrition Labellingand Nutrition Labelling

Using nutrition label can help us to find out the sodium content of food products.

Read and Use Nutrition LabelsRead and Use Nutrition Labels

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Examples of Recommended Examples of Recommended Format of Nutrition LabelFormat of Nutrition Label

Tabular format

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Examples of Recommended Examples of Recommended Format of Nutrition LabelFormat of Nutrition Label

Linear format (for small packages with total surface area of less than 200 cm2)

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Required Nutrients on Nutrition LabelsRequired Nutrients on Nutrition Labels

1+7 (energy plus seven nutrients specified for labelling) – i.e. energy, protein, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, carbohydrates, sugars and sodium.

Nutrient(s) involved in nutrition claim(s) (when the nutrition claim is on any type of fat, the amount of cholesterol must be declared as well).

For other nutrients, declaration is voluntary

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Making Use of Nutrition LabelMaking Use of Nutrition Label

Consumers can: Compare the nutritional content among

different foods for a healthier choice, e.g. choose food that is lower in fat, sodium (or salt) and sugars

Understand the nutritional content of food and estimate their contribution to the overall diet

To meet individual’s dietary needs

Three Simple Steps toThree Simple Steps toRead Nutrition LabelRead Nutrition Label

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Three Simple Steps toThree Simple Steps toRead Nutrition LabelRead Nutrition Label

Step 1 Take note of the reference amount of food being

used in the nutrition label

Step 2 Read the energy and nutrient content together

with the reference amount

Step 3 Refer to the percentage Nutrient Reference

Value (%NRV), if available, to see if the food contains a lot or a little of energy or a nutrient in the food

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Step 1: Step 1: Take note of the reference amount ofTake note of the reference amount offood being used in the nutrition labelfood being used in the nutrition label

Expressed as per 100 g (or per 100 mL) of food

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Expressed as per serving (the serving size (in g or mL) and the no. of servings must be specified on the package)

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Expressed as per package (if the package contains only a single serving )

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Step 2: Read the energy and nutrient content Step 2: Read the energy and nutrient content together with the reference amounttogether with the reference amount

A) Use nutrition label to compare between products

B) Use nutrition label to calculate the amount of energy and nutrients you get from food

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Step 2A: Use nutrition label toStep 2A: Use nutrition label tocompare between productscompare between products

Products with nutritional content expresssed in the SAME reference amount

If reference amount is the SAME, you CAN COMPARE between the products DIRECTLY

(Partial) Nutrition label of Brand A biscuit (Partial) Nutrition label of Brand C biscuit

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Products with nutritional content expresssed in DIFFERENT reference amounts

If reference amounts are DIFFERENT, you CANNOT COMPARE between the products DIRECTLY

(Partial) Nutrition label of Brand A biscuit (Partial) Nutrition label of Brand D biscuit

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Products with nutritional content expresssed in DIFFERENT reference amounts

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Step 2B:Step 2B:Use nutrition label to calculate the amount of Use nutrition label to calculate the amount of

energy and nutrients you get from foodenergy and nutrients you get from food

The more you eat, the more you get

If you eat 1 serving of biscuit Get 8 g of fat, 3.5 g of saturated fat

If you eat 2 servings of biscuit Get 16 g of fat, 7 g of saturated fat

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Step 2B:Step 2B:Use nutrition label to calculate the amount of Use nutrition label to calculate the amount of

energy and nutrients you get from foodenergy and nutrients you get from food

Energy and nutrient content expressed as per 100 g/mL

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Step 3: Refer to the percentage Nutrient Reference Step 3: Refer to the percentage Nutrient Reference Value (%NRV), if available, to see if the food contains Value (%NRV), if available, to see if the food contains

a lot or a little of energy or a nutrient in the fooda lot or a little of energy or a nutrient in the food

%NRV is usually on a scale from 0% to 100%.

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For nutrients that needed to limit their intake E.g. total fat, saturated fat, sodium and

sugars Look for foods that have lower %NRV

Get enough of nutrients that are good for health E.g. dietary fibre Look for foods that have higher %NRV

Step 3: Refer to the percentage Nutrient Reference Step 3: Refer to the percentage Nutrient Reference Value (%NRV), if available, to see if the food contains Value (%NRV), if available, to see if the food contains

a lot or a little of energy or a nutrient in the fooda lot or a little of energy or a nutrient in the food

Use Nutrition Label to Use Nutrition Label to Choose Healthy FoodChoose Healthy Food

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Principles of Healthy EatingPrinciples of Healthy Eating

Choose a variety of food and eat cereals as the largest portion of food in every meal.

Eat a lot of vegetables and fruit.

Reduce the consumption of foodstuffs with high salt, fat and sugar content as well as those which are preserved.

A daily fluid intake of 6 to 8 glasses (including clear soup, fruit juice and tea).

Take meals regularly and in adequate amounts.

(Source of information: Department of Health)

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Nutrition Labelling is a Useful Tool fNutrition Labelling is a Useful Tool for Practising Healthy Eatingor Practising Healthy Eating

Nutrition label and nutrition claim can help consumers choose healthier food in accordance with healthy eating principles and the Food Pyramid, e.g.

Choose biscuits lower in fat and sodium (or salt)

Choose dairy products lower in fat

Choose beverages lower in sugars

How to Choose Prepackaged FoodHow to Choose Prepackaged Foodto Prevent High Blood Pressure?to Prevent High Blood Pressure?

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Preventing High Blood Pressure – Preventing High Blood Pressure – Choosing Prepackaged FoodsChoosing Prepackaged Foods

1. Take note of relevant nutrition claim as a quick screening tool; and

2. Take three simple steps to read nutrition label

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Choose foods with lower sodium and combined amount of saturated fat, trans fat. For those who require weight maintenance, choose foods with lower energy, fat and sugars contents

Nutrition claim only gives a rough idea about the content of a particular nutrient, one should not make a food choice solely on the basis of a nutrition claim. In order to eat healthily, we should take note of other nutrients as well. For example, when buying a product with a “low sodium” claim, one should take note of the content of fat and other nutrients.

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Claim：Free; No; Zero; Without; Does not contain

Claim：Very low; Extremely low; Super low

(This category of claim applies to sodium only)

Claim：Low; Little; Low source; Few; Contains a small amount of

Meaning of Claim :

Insignificant amount of a particular nutrient found in the food

Meaning of Claim :

A very small amount of sodium found in the food

Meaning of Claim :A small amount of nutrient found in the food

Example:

Sodium free

(Contain not more than 5mg of sodium per 100g/mL of food)

Example:

Very low sodium free


Example:

Low sodium free


Nutrient content claims on sodium are classified into “Free”, “Very low” and “Low” claims

Specific Conditions of Nutrient Content Claims -

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Three Simple Steps to Read Nutrition LabelStep 1 Take note of the reference amount of food

being used in the nutrition label Step 2 Read and compare the nutritional contentStep 3 Refer to the percentage Nutrient Reference

Value (%NRV) (If available)

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Preventing High Blood Pressure – Preventing High Blood Pressure – Choosing Prepackaged Foods (Example 1)Choosing Prepackaged Foods (Example 1)

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Corn Flakes C Corn Flakes D

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Soup E

Soup F

ENDSENDS

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Is Salt the Same as Sodium?Is Salt the Same as Sodium?

Sodium chloride (NaCl) is the chemical name of salt

Majority of sodium intake is from salt Salt or other sodium-containing food

additives, e.g. sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite, are often added to canned food and processed food

Sodium itself also presents naturally in milk and cheese

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How Much Sodium Do We How Much Sodium Do We Need?Need?

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends -

The daily intake amount of sodium should not be more than 2 000mg

i.e. approximates to 1 level teaspoon of salt

nutrition labelling and prevention of high blood pressure

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