Smith Shannon C, Stephen Alison M, Dombrow Carol, Macquarrie Doug
Cantox Health Sciences International.
Can J Diet Pract Res. 2002 Summer;63(2):55-60. doi: 10.3148/63.2.2002.55.
This paper summarizes existing evidence on the impact of food information programs. Published and unpublished literature produced within the past decade was searched and reviewed. Relevant data were tabulated and key findings summarized. Food information programs are becoming increasingly popular as tools to help consumers select a healthy diet. The key feature of a food information program is a package logo on foods meeting nutrition criteria set by the program s administering body. The logo acts as a health message. Several countries, including Canada, have adopted food information programs. Critics believe that these programs oversimplify the concept of healthy eating, that consumers misinterpret the logo s meaning, that licensing fees prohibit small companies from participating, and that the programs are limited to purchase behaviour and do not necessarily have an impact on dietary intake. Consumers report support for the programs and are able to interpret a logo s meaning accurately. In addition, evidence shows the programs have had a positive impact on the nutrient composition of foods. Research is still needed, however, to establish the impact of such programs on food purchases and dietary intake, and the overall and long-term effectiveness of the programs as a nutrition intervention.
本文总结了关于食品信息项目影响的现有证据。对过去十年内发表和未发表的文献进行了检索和综述。将相关数据制成表格并总结了主要发现。食品信息项目作为帮助消费者选择健康饮食的工具正变得越来越受欢迎。食品信息项目的关键特征是在符合该项目管理机构设定的营养标准的食品上有一个包装标识。这个标识起到健康信息的作用。包括加拿大在内的几个国家已经采用了食品信息项目。批评者认为这些项目将健康饮食的概念过于简单化，消费者会误解标识的含义，许可费用使小公司无法参与，并且这些项目仅限于购买行为，不一定会对饮食摄入量产生影响。消费者表示支持这些项目，并且能够准确解读标识的含义。此外，有证据表明这些项目对食品的营养成分产生了积极影响。然而，仍需要开展研究来确定此类项目对食品购买和饮食摄入量的影响，以及这些项目作为一种营养干预措施的整体和长期效果。
