1
|
McClements DJ. Designing healthier and more sustainable ultraprocessed foods. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf 2024; 23:e13331. [PMID: 38517032 DOI: 10.1111/1541-4337.13331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
The food industry has been extremely successful in creating a broad range of delicious, affordable, convenient, and safe food and beverage products. However, many of these products are considered to be ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) that contain ingredients and are processed in a manner that may cause adverse health effects. This review article introduces the concept of UPFs and briefly discusses food products that fall into this category, including beverages, baked goods, snacks, confectionary, prepared meals, dressings, sauces, spreads, and processed meat and meat analogs. It then discusses correlations between consumption levels of UPFs and diet-related chronic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes. The different reasons for the proposed ability of UPFs to increase the risk of these chronic diseases are then critically assessed, including displacement of whole foods, high energy densities, missing phytochemicals, contamination with packaging chemicals, hyperpalatability, harmful additives, rapid ingestion and digestion, and toxic reaction products. Then, potential strategies to overcome the current problems with UPFs are presented, including reducing energy density, balancing nutritional profile, fortification, increasing satiety response, modulating mastication and digestion, reengineering food structure, and precision processing. The central argument is that it may be possible to reformulate and reengineer many UPFs to improve their healthiness and sustainability, although this still needs to be proved using rigorous scientific studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Julian McClements
- Department of Food Science & Bioengineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Yusta-Boyo MJ, González EG, García-Solano M, Rollán Gordo A, Peña-Rey I, Rodríguez-Artalejo F. Reduction of sugar, salt and fat content in foods over the period 2016-2021 in Spain: the National Food Reformulation Plan. Eur J Clin Nutr 2024; 78:149-154. [PMID: 37875613 DOI: 10.1038/s41430-023-01357-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Population´s dietary intake of saturated fat, sodium, and sugars is higher than the current recommendations in Spain and most European countries. Nationwide food reformulation strategies have the potential to improve nutritional quality; however, evaluations are only available in a few countries and are difficult to compare. This study shows the degree of compliance with the nutrient reduction objectives included in a 4-year (2016-2020) Spanish food reformulation initiative. METHODS In 2016, baseline median nutrient content was established for 57 food subcategories. Agreed reduction (%) expressed as the median content to be reached by 2020 was set as the objective. In 2021, Spanish Food Safety and Nutrition Agency (AESAN) collected mandatory nutritional information from 3118 products belonging to the food subcategories included in the PLAN. Median nutrient content was calculated and compared with baseline data established in 2016 and PLAN objectives. RESULTS Median nutrient content reduction was observed in all food subcategories. Relative reductions (%) ranged from 0.6 to 60% for added sugars, 4.8 to 33.3% for salt, 4.5 to 78.3% for saturated fat, and 24.9 to 36% for total fat. PLAN objectives were achieved in all subcategories except for one. The number of products involved, belonging to the highly consumed food categories, shows the potential of national reformulation strategies to improve the nutritional quality of the diet. CONCLUSION Compliance with nutrient reduction agreements was 99%; however, the variability of nutrient content within subcategories shows that there is room for further reduction in selected nutrients and food subcategories.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- María José Yusta-Boyo
- Spanish Food Safety and Nutrition Agency, Ministry of Consumer's Affairs, Madrid, Spain.
| | | | - Marta García-Solano
- Spanish Food Safety and Nutrition Agency, Ministry of Consumer's Affairs, Madrid, Spain
| | - Almudena Rollán Gordo
- Spanish Food Safety and Nutrition Agency, Ministry of Consumer's Affairs, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Peña-Rey
- Spanish Food Safety and Nutrition Agency, Ministry of Consumer's Affairs, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Rodríguez-Artalejo
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- CIBERESP, Madrid, Spain
- IMDEA-Food Institute, CEI UAM+CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Marakis G, Kotopoulou S, Proestos C, Skoulika S, Boukouvalas G, Papaioannou A, Mousia Z, Papadimitriou D, Katri EM, Naska A, Chourdakis M, Zampelas A, Magriplis E. Changes of trans and saturated fatty acid content in savory baked goods from 2015 to 2021 and their effect on consumers' intake using substitution models: A study conducted in Greece. Am J Clin Nutr 2023; 118:1010-1019. [PMID: 37640108 PMCID: PMC10636230 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Greece, nearly a third of savory baked goods (SBGs) exceeded the limit of 2 g of nonruminant or industrial trans fatty acids (i-TFA) per 100 g fat in 2015. The impact of the Commission Regulation (European Union) 2019/649 on exposure to trans fatty acids (TFA), i-TFA, and saturated fatty acid (SFA) from SBGs has not been previously evaluated. OBJECTIVES The study aimed to explore fatty acid reformulation of SBG products and assess differences in TFA, i-TFA, and SFA intakes using a sample of Greek SBG consumers from a nationally representative survey. METHODS In 2021, 140 samples of SBGs were collected in the greater metropolitan area of Athens, and their fat profile and content were compared to those from 2015. Based on these measurements, food consumption substitution models were employed to examine TFA and SFA intake differences, and the percent contribution from SBG among consumers was calculated (N = 1008). Nutrient densities were calculated by adjusting all fat intakes by individual mean energy intake (percentage of daily total energy intake). RESULTS The 2% i-TFA legislative limit/100 g of fat in measured SBGs was exceeded by 11.4% in 2021 compared to 31.1% in 2015 (19.7% increase in compliance). Median i-TFA and TFA intakes from SBGs were reduced from 0.05 (0.01, 0.12)% and 0.13 (0.03, 0.27)% in 2015 to 0.03 (0.01, 0.09) and 0.06 (0.03, 0.13)% in 2021, respectively. In terms of SFA, a mean increase/100 g was calculated, resulting in an increased intake in 2021 compared to 2015 [5.18% (2.78, 8.37) and 3.55 (1.99, 5.73), respectively]. CONCLUSIONS Despite the reductions seen in i-TFA content of SBGs, food product reformulation efforts in Greece should focus not only on TFA content but also on SFA reduction to improve public health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sotiria Kotopoulou
- Hellenic Food Authority, Leoforos Kifissias, Athens, Greece; Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Charalampos Proestos
- Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zographou, Athens, Greece
| | | | | | | | - Zoe Mousia
- Hellenic Food Authority, Leoforos Kifissias, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Eleni-Maria Katri
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Androniki Naska
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Michail Chourdakis
- Laboratory of Hygiene, Social and Preventive Medicine and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Antonis Zampelas
- Hellenic Food Authority, Leoforos Kifissias, Athens, Greece; Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Emmanuella Magriplis
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
A Cake Made with No Animal Origin Ingredients: Physical Properties and Nutritional and Sensory Quality. Foods 2022; 12:foods12010054. [PMID: 36613270 PMCID: PMC9818566 DOI: 10.3390/foods12010054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
A gelled emulsion ingredient based on high oleic sunflower oil (20%) and an isolated soy protein suspension were used in the elaboration of a cake to avoid the use of ingredients of animal origin. The control product was elaborated with butter and milk. Sugar was used in both types of formulations, but it was partially replaced by maltitol in the reformulated product. Decreases of 25% in energy and 67% in fat supply were achieved, as well as a 36% reduction in the sugar content. The saturated fatty acid amount was 0.57 g/100 g product, in contrast with the 9.45 g/100 g product found in control products. Differences in color were observed both through instrumental and sensory analysis, especially in the crust, with lower values for the Browning index in the reformulated products. The hedonic test, carried out with 44 untrained panelists, showed a good score for general acceptability (6.1 in contrast to 7.2 for control products), and no significant differences from the control were found for flavor.
Collapse
|
5
|
Barragán-Martínez L, Román-Guerrero A, Vernon-Carter E, Alvarez-Ramirez J. Impact of fat replacement by a hybrid gel (canola oil/candelilla wax oleogel and gelatinized corn starch hydrogel) on dough viscoelasticity, color, texture, structure, and starch digestibility of sugar-snap cookies. Int J Gastron Food Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgfs.2022.100563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
|
6
|
Pereira T, Horta A, Barroso S, Mendes S, Gil MM. Study of the Seasonal Variations of the Fatty Acid Profiles of Selected Macroalgae. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26195807. [PMID: 34641350 PMCID: PMC8510082 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26195807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the high consumption of fat-rich processed foods, efforts are being done to reduce their saturated fat (SFA) contents and replace it with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), creating a necessity to find alternative PUFA sources. Macroalgae, being a promising natural source of healthy food, may be such an alternative. The fatty acid (FA) profile of Fucus spiralis, Bifurcaria bifurcata, Ulva lactuca, and Saccorhiza polyschides were determined through direct transesterification and their seasonal variation was studied. F. spiralis showed the highest FA content overall, B. bifurcata presented the higher PUFA amounts, and U. lactuca and S. polyschides the higher SFA. The production of FA was shown to be influenced by the seasons. Spring and summer seemed to induce the FA production in F. spiralis and B. bifurcata while in U. lactuca the same was verified in winter. U. lactuca presented a ω6/ω3 ratio between 0.59 and 1.38 while B. bifurcata presented a ratio around 1.31. The study on the seasonal variations of the macroalgal FA profile can be helpful to understand the best season to yield FA of interest, such as ALA, EPA, and DHA. It may also provide valuable information on the best culturing conditions for the production of desired FAs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Pereira
- MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Polytechnic of Leiria, Cetemares, 2520-620 Peniche, Portugal; (T.P.); (A.H.); (S.B.)
| | - André Horta
- MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Polytechnic of Leiria, Cetemares, 2520-620 Peniche, Portugal; (T.P.); (A.H.); (S.B.)
- Division of Aquaculture, Upgrading and Bioprospection, Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), Avenida Alfredo Magalhães Ramalho, 6, 1495-165 Algés, Portugal
- Research Institute for Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sónia Barroso
- MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Polytechnic of Leiria, Cetemares, 2520-620 Peniche, Portugal; (T.P.); (A.H.); (S.B.)
| | - Susana Mendes
- MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ESTM, Polytechnic of Leiria, Cetemares, 2520-620 Peniche, Portugal;
| | - Maria M. Gil
- MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ESTM, Polytechnic of Leiria, Cetemares, 2520-620 Peniche, Portugal;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-262-240-200
| |
Collapse
|