Nutrition guidance program Guiding Stars - which assigns one, two or three stars to qualifying products based on whether they are nutritionally good, better and best - has announced that it “has updated its algorithm for U.S. foods, the formula it uses to assign stars to thousands of foods, to reflect the following changes: incorporate anticipated changes to the Nutrition Facts label; align with updated recommended Daily Values (DV) for vitamins, minerals, sodium, and fiber; and to reflect consensus of nutrition science regarding omega-3 fatty acids, DHA, EPA, and artificial colors.”
For example, “A growing body of evidence has also shown that artificial colors have negative health effects and can easily be avoided with use of natural coloring agents such as beet extract. Based on this research, foods containing artificial colors will now lose one star value.” Guiding Stars estimates that “1,400 items that will gain stars and more than 1,600 items that will lose a star.”
For example, “A growing body of evidence has also shown that artificial colors have negative health effects and can easily be avoided with use of natural coloring agents such as beet extract. Based on this research, foods containing artificial colors will now lose one star value.” Guiding Stars estimates that “1,400 items that will gain stars and more than 1,600 items that will lose a star.”
- KC's View:
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All programs like this have to be dynamic if they are going to be useful and relevant, and so companies have to be willing to change them up as new scientific information becomes available.
