Nutrient profiling

In November 2004, the Agency published the results of research to develop a nutrient profile model. This research focused on the application of the model to the further regulation of broadcast advertising, as envisaged in the White Paper, Choosing Health.

Since the publication of this research the Agency has:

• Carried out a formal public consultation on the scientific basis of the preferred model
• Held a scientific workshop of nutrition academics to assess the scientific basis of the model
• Had the model considered by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN)

The following five issues have been identified as warranting further investigation:

1. An alternative approach to take account of carbohydrate quality – initially this will be the inclusion of criteria for total sugars (to replace NME sugars) and fibre.
2. A refinement to take account of the nutrient density of foods, by introducing a water content criterion.
3. An alternative approach to recognising the importance to the diet of foods from the meat, fish and alternatives category of the Balance of Good Health: initial approaches will include the inclusion of alternative markers to iron, calcium and long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (protein, for example).
4. A refinement to differentiate within the fats and oils category; initial approaches will include: capping the points score for energy density, and removing the energy density criterion.
5. A refinement to the weighting of scores for fruit and vegetable based foods: initial approaches will include a lower ceiling in the points score for fruit and vegetable content.

Further work has now been commissioned to examine these suggested refinements, and a report of this work is expected in late July.