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The impact of the Nutri-Score front-of-pack nutrition label on purchasing intentions of unprocessed and processed foods: post-hoc analyses from three randomized controlled trials.
Egnell, M, Galan, P, Fialon, M, Touvier, M, Péneau, S, Kesse-Guyot, E, Hercberg, S, Julia, C
The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity. 2021;18(1):38
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In order to prevent nutrition-related chronic diseases, Front-of-Pack nutrition Labels (FoPL) have been identified as efficient tools to encourage consumers towards healthier food choices and to promote food reformulation. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the Nutri-Score, compared to the current labelling situation in France (i.e., Reference Intakes (RIs) or no label), on food purchasing intentions. This study is a post-hoc analysis of three randomised controlled studies in three specific populations; students (N = 1866), low-income individuals (N = 336) and subjects suffering from cardiometabolic diseases (N = 1180). Results show that overall, participants (students, low-income individuals and subjects suffering from cardiometabolic diseases) simulating purchases with the Nutri-Score affixed on pre-packed foods were more likely to have higher proportions of unpacked products (especially unprocessed fruits and meat) in their shopping cart. Furthermore, Nutri-Score influenced the type of food purchased; less ultra-processed foods which have been found to be often of lower nutritional quality. Authors conclude that Nutri-Score may have a positive impact on food purchases which would discourage the purchase of pre-packed processed products.
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Nutri-Score summary graded front-of-pack nutrition label has been identified as an efficient tool to increase the nutritional quality of pre-packed food purchases. However, no study has been conducted to investigate the effect of the Nutri-Score on the shopping cart composition, considering the type of foods. The present paper aims to investigate the effect of the Nutri-Score on the type of food purchases, in terms of the relative contribution of unpacked and pre-packed foods, or the processing degree of foods. METHODS Between September 2016 and April 2017, three consecutive randomized controlled trials were conducted in three specific populations - students (N = 1866), low-income individuals (N = 336) and subjects suffering from cardiometabolic diseases (N = 1180) - to investigate the effect of the Nutri-Score on purchasing intentions compared to the Reference Intakes and no label. Using these combined data, the proportion of unpacked products in the shopping carts, as well as the distribution of products across food categories taking into account the degree of processing (NOVA classification) were assessed by trials arm. RESULTS The shopping carts of participants simulating purchases with the Nutri-Score affixed on pre-packed foods contained higher proportion of unpacked products - especially raw fruits and meats, i.e. with no FoPL -, compared to participants purchasing with no label (difference of 5.93 percentage points [3.88-7.99], p-value< 0.0001) or with the Reference Intakes (difference of 5.27[3.25-7.29], p-value< 0.0001). This higher proportion was partly explained by fewer purchases of pre-packed processed and ultra-processed products overall in the Nutri-Score group. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide new insights on the positive effect of the Nutri-Score, which appears to decrease purchases in processed products resulting in higher proportions of unprocessed and unpacked foods, in line with public health recommendations.
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Organic food consumption and gluten-free diet, is there a link? Results in French adults without coeliac disease.
Perrin, L, Allès, B, Julia, C, Hercberg, S, Touvier, M, Lairon, D, Baudry, J, Kesse-Guyot, E
The British journal of nutrition. 2021;125(9):1067-1078
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The gluten-free diet (GFD) is a medical response for people with coeliac disease, a systemic autoimmune disorder for which GFD is the only available effective treatment. The aim of this study was to compare the consumption of organic products (as a whole and by food group) in individuals (partially or totally) avoiding gluten or not, and their places of food purchases of organic food. Results indicate a positive association between gluten avoidance and contribution of organic food to the diet. A gradient was also observed with total avoiders consuming more of organic food than partial avoiders. This contribution was higher for all types of products, except milk and dairy products. Furthermore, the results appear consistent with the motives reported by individuals avoiding gluten. Authors conclude that their findings underline a strong positive correlation between gluten avoidance and organic food consumption.
Abstract
The rising popular belief that gluten is unhealthy has led to growth in gluten avoidance in people without coeliac disease. Little information is available on their dietary profiles and their dietary behaviours. Our aim was to compare the consumption of organic foods between gluten avoiders and non-avoiders, and their places of food purchase. We described their sociodemographic and dietary profiles. The study population included participants of the NutriNet-Santé cohort who completed both a food exclusion questionnaire and an organic semi-quantitative FFQ (n 23 468). Food intake and organic food consumption ratios were compared using multivariable adjusted ANCOVA models. Associations between gluten avoidance and organic food consumption as well as places of food purchase were investigated with multivariable logistic regression. Participants avoiding gluten were more likely to be women and had a healthier dietary profile. Organic food consumption was higher among gluten avoiders (48·50 % of total diet for total avoiders, 17·38 % for non-avoiders). After adjustments for confounders, organic food consumption and purchase in organic stores were positively associated with gluten avoidance: adjusted OR (aOR)Q5 v.Q1 organic food = 4·95; 95 % CI 3·70, 6·63 and aORorganic stores v.supermarkets = 1·82; 95 % CI 1·42, 2·33 for total avoiders. Our study highlights that individuals avoiding gluten are high organic consumers and frequently purchase their foods in organic stores which propose an extended offer of gluten-free food. Further research is needed to determine the underlying common motivations and the temporality of the dietary behaviours of healthy people avoiding gluten.
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Mindfulness Is Associated with the Metabolic Syndrome among Individuals with a Depressive Symptomatology.
Guyot, E, Baudry, J, Hercberg, S, Galan, P, Kesse-Guyot, E, Péneau, S
Nutrients. 2018;10(2)
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Metabolic syndrome is a combination of risk factors including obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and a poor lipid profile. Dispositional mindfulness is a psychological trait that is defined as a non-judgemental awareness of the present moment. While mindfulness has been shown to produce beneficial effects on physical and mental health, no study has examined the associated between mindfulness and the metabolic syndrome risk factors. The aim of this cross-sectional web-based study was to explore the relationship between mindfulness and metabolic syndrome in modifying depressive symptomology across 17,490 individuals. Participants attended a clinical exam and completed the Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire to assess dispositional mindfulness. Depressive symptomology was measured through self-administered online questionnaires at the beginning of the study and each year of follow-up. This study found that individuals with higher levels of overall mindfulness were less likely to present with metabolic syndrome, but only among individuals showing depressive symptomology. Based on these results, the authors conclude it is important to encourage mindfulness practices in patients at risk of metabolic syndrome, particularly among those with depressive symptomology. More longitudinal studies are required to better understand mindfulness-based interventions in the clinical setting.
Abstract
The Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a major public health burden. Dispositional mindfulness has recently been associated with eating disorders, being overweight, and could therefore be associated with the MetS. We aimed to examine in a cross-sectional design the relationship between mindfulness, the MetS, and its risk factors in a large sample of the adult general population and the influence of depressive symptomatology on this association. Adults participating in the NutriNet-Santé study who had completed the Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire and attended a clinical and biological examination were available for inclusion. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for socio-demographic and lifestyle factors were performed. A total of 17,490 individuals were included. Among individuals with a depressive symptomatology, those with higher mindfulness were less likely to have a MetS (OR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.57-0.93), a high waist circumference, a low HDL-cholesterol level and an elevated fasting blood glucose level (all p <0.05). In those without depressive symptomatology, individuals with higher mindfulness were less likely to have a high waist circumference (p <0.01). In conclusion, higher mindfulness was associated with lower odds of developing a MetS only among individuals with a depressive symptomatology.