The Development of Heart Healthy Food Label Reading Guidelines

Abstract

Globally, heart disease is the leading cause of mortality, accounting for around 13 million deaths in 2010. Healthier food choices, including foods low in saturated fat and sugar, and high in dietary fibre, help reduce the risk of heart disease. However, making healthier food choices can be challenging for consumers. The Nutrition Information Panel is a mandatory nutrition label on food packages in New Zealand (NZ) and Australia, and label reading guidelines (LRGs) are a nutrition education tool to assist people to make healthy choices. The National Heart Foundation of NZ has a set of heart-focused LRGs but these are now out-dated and need revision to ensure they are based on best evidence and feasible in the current NZ food supply. The aim of this thesis was to develop a new set of LRGs to help New Zealanders with heart disease to make achievable heart healthy food choices. First, a systematic review was undertaken to examine previous international research describing processes to develop LRGs. Second, an extensive audit identified existing LRGs used by organisations in Australia and NZ. The findings of the review and audit, along with Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, Nutrient Reference Values and cardioprotective dietary pattern were used to inform the development of a new set of heart healthy LRGs for the Heart Foundation of NZ. Up-to-date food composition data and decision making criteria based on feasibility and health were used to develop LRGs for five staple food categories (including 14 staple food category subclasses) and four discretionary food categories. Stricter criteria were used for discretionary food categories and the most common nutrients included were energy, saturated fat, trans fat, sugar, dietary fibre and sodium. The new LRGs are to be published in an updated version of the National Heart Foundations “A Guide to Heart Healthy Eating”. The LRGs will be an advantageous nutrition education tool to assist people in interpreting quantitative food labels and make heart healthy food choices. Future research should assess the feasibility and affordability of LRGs. The LRGs should be reviewed and revised regularly to ensure they remain up-to-date and evidence-based.