Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Testing nutrient profile models in relation to energy density and energy cost

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 63, pages 674–683 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Background: Nutrient profiling of foods is defined as the science of classifying foods based on their nutrient content. Food rankings generated by nutrient profile models need to be tested against objective reality as opposed to public opinion.

Objective: To test the performance of selected nutrient profile models in relation to the foods' energy density (kcal g−1) and energy cost (Dollar per 1000 kcal).

Subjects/Methods: Analyses were based on 378 component foods of a food frequency instrument. The models tested were the French nutrient adequacy models NAS23 and NAS16 and nutrient density models NDS23 and NDS16; and a family of nutrient-rich models (NRn, where n=5–7; 10–12, and 15). Also tested were LIM scores and a modified British Food Standards Agency model WXYfm. Profiles were calculated based on 100 g, 100 kcal and on Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed. Food rankings generated by different models were correlated with each other and with the foods' energy density and energy cost.

Results: Nutrient profile models based on protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals showed an inverse correlation with energy density that diminished as more micronutrients were introduced into the model. Models based on fat, sugar and sodium were highly correlated with energy density. Foods classified as healthier were generally associated with higher energy costs.

Conclusions: Not all models accurately reflected the foods' content of nutrients known to be beneficial to health. High correlations with energy density meant that some models classified foods based on their energy density as opposed to nutrient content.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1
Figure 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • ADA Reports (2007). Practice paper of the American Dietetic Association: nutrient density: meeting nutrient goals within calorie needs. J Am Diet Assoc 107, 860–869.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • AFSSA. Les Profils nutritionnels. Report (in press).

  • Andrieu E, Darmon N, Drewnowski A (2006). Low-cost diets: more energy, fewer nutrients. Eur J Clin Nutr 60, 434–436.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Azais-Braesco V, Goffi C, Labouze E (2006). Nutrient profiling: comparison and critical analysis of existing systems. Public Health Nutr 9, 613–622.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • COI (2004). Food promotion and marketing to children: views of low income consumers. Communications on Behalf of Food Standard Agency. [Monograph on the internet] 2004 Research Works Ltd.: London, Available at: http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/foodpromoreport.pdf.

  • Darmon N, Briend A, Drewnowski A (2004). Energy-dense diets are associated with lower diet costs: a community study of French adults. Publ Health Nutr 7, 21–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darmon N, Darmon M, Maillot M, Drewnowski A (2005). A nutrient density standard for vegetables and fruits: nutrients per calorie and nutrients per unit cost. J Am Diet Assoc 105, 1881–1887.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drewnowski A (2005). Concept of a nutritious food: toward a nutrient density score. Am J Clin Nutr 82, 721–732.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Drewnowski A (2007). What's next for nutrition labeling and health claims: an update of nutrient profiling in the European Union and the US. Nutr Today 42, 206–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drewnowski A, Monsivais P, Maillot M, Darmon N (2007). Low-energy-density diets are associated with higher diet quality and higher diet costs in French adults. J Am Diet Assoc 107, 1028–1032.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) (2007). EFSA 9th scientific colloquium—nutrient profiling for foods bearing nutrition and health claims. Parma, Accessed at: www.efsa.europa.eu.

  • FDA (2002). Code of federal regulations, title 21-Food and drugs (volume 2), Chapter I-Food and Drug administration, Department of Health and Human Services, Part 101-Food Labeling-Table of Contents, Subpart A-General Provisions, Sec 101.14 Health claims: General requirements and Subpart E-Specific requirements for Health Claims. US Government Printing Office, Revised as of 1 April 2002.

  • FDA (2004). Calories Count. Report of the Working Group on Obesity. [Monograph on the Internet]. Available at: www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/nutrcal.html.

  • FDA (2007a). Code of Federal Regulations, Sec 101.9 Nutrition labeling of food. Accessed at: http://www.accessdata.fda.goc/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm?fr=109.9.

  • FDA (2007b). Food labeling: use of symbols to communicate nutrition information, consideration of consumer studies and nutritional criteria; public hearing, request for comments. FDA Docket No. 2007N-0277.

  • FSA (2005a). Nutrient profiling, Agenda item 7. 13 October 2005 [Monograph on the Internet] Available at: http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/fsa051004.pdf.

  • FSA (2005b). Scientific workshop to assess the Food Standards Agency's proposed approach to nutrient profiling. 25th February 2005. Available at: http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/nutprofworkshop250205.pdf.

  • Gazibarich B, Ricci PE (1998). Towards better food choice: the nutritious food index. Aust J Nutr Diet 55, 10–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • IFN (2006). Conférence de l'Institut Français pour la Nutrition sur les profils nutritionnels des aliments: actualites, enjeux et perspectives. Symposium 12 June 2006. Available at: http://www.alimentation-sante.com/public/actes/juin06r.htm.

  • ILSI (2006). International Life Sciences Institute Europe Workshop on nutritional characteristics of foods: science-based approach to nutrient profiling. Mallorca, 25–27 April 2006. Available at:http://www.ilsi.org/ Accessed March 10, 2007.

  • IOM (2007). Nutrition standards for foods in schools: leading the way toward healthier youth. Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. National Academies Press: Washington DC.

  • Labouze E, Goffi C, Moulay L, Azais-Braesco V (2007). A multipurpose tool to evaluate the nutritional quality of individual foods: Nutrimap. Public Health Nutr 10, 690–700.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maillot M, Darmon N, Darmon M, Lafay L, Drewnowski A (2007). Nutrient-dense food groups have high energy costs: an econometric approach to nutrient profiling. J Nutr 137, 1815–1820.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Monsivais P, Drewnowski A (2007). The rising cost of low energy density foods. J Am Diet Assoc 107, 2071–2076.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Netherlands nutrition center (2007). Criteria for the nutritional evaluation of food. The Netherlands tripartite classification model for foods Available at:www.voedingscentrum.nl/NR/rdonlyres/0AF85A19-79B1-4DB5-A0E8-C8BFFD44B089/0/Criteriaengelssite.pdfAccessed 8 June 2007.

  • Nijman CA, Zijp IM, Sierksma A, Roodenburg AJ, Leenen R, van den KC et al. (2007). A method to improve the nutritional quality of foods and beverages based on dietary recommendations. Eur J Clin Nutr 61, 461–471.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson RE, Kristal AR, Tinker LF, Carter RA, Bolton MP, Agurs-Collins T (1999). Measurement characteristics of the Women's Health Initiative food frequency questionnaire. Ann Epidemiol 9, 178–187.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rayner M, Scarborough P, Stockley L (2004). Nutrient profiles: options for definitions of use in relation to food promotion and children's diets. Final report, 2004 [Monograph online]. Available at: http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/nutrientprofilingfullreport.pdf.

  • Rayner M, Scarborough P, Stockley L (2005a). Nutrient profiles: applicability of currently proposed model for uses in relation to promotion of food to children aged 5–10 and adults. 2005. [Monograph online]. Available at: http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/nutprofmodelforadults.pdf.

  • Rayner M, Scarborough P, Boxer B, Stockley L (2005b). Nutrient profiles: development of final model. [Monograph online] Available at: http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/nutprofr.pdf.

  • Rayner M, Scarborough P, Stockley L, Boxer A (2005c). Nutrient profiles; further refinement and testing of model SSCg3d. Final Report 2005. [Monograph online]. Available at: http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/npreportsept05.pdf.

  • Scarborough P, Boxer A, Rayner M, Stockley L (2007a). Testing nutrient profile models using data from a survey of nutrition professionals. Public Health Nutr 10, 337–345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scarborough P, Rayner M, Stockley L (2007b). Developing nutrient profile models: a systematic approach. Public Health Nutr 10, 330–336.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scarborough P, Rayner M, Stockley L, Black A (2007c). Nutrition professionals' perception of the ‘healthiness’ of individual foods. Public Health Nutr 10, 346–353.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stockley L (2007). Nutrition profiles for foods to which nutrients could be added, or on which health claims could be made. Experiences from other countries and testing possible models. Final Report Prepared for the UK Food Standards Agency. 2003 Available at: http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/nutritionclaims.pdfAccessed 30 March 2007.

  • The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union (2006). Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods. OJEU 404, 9–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • USDA (1975). Food Yields Summarized by Different Stages of Preparation. USDA Agricultural Research Service Handbook # 102: Washington, DC 1975.

  • USDA (2005). The Food Guide Pyramid. Washington; 2005–7. Available at: http://www.mypyramid.gov/.

  • USDA (2006). USDA food and nutrient database for dietary studies, 2.0. (2006). [Monograph on the Internet]. Agricultural Research Service, Food Surveys Research Group: Beltsville, MD, Accessed 8 June 2007.

  • USDA (2007). Composition of foods raw, processed, prepared. USDA National nutrient database for standard reference SR-19. Available at: www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/SR19/sr19_doc.pdfAccessed 12 August 2007.

  • USDA/DHHS (2005). Dietary guidelines for Americans by US department of health and human services and US department of agriculture [Monograph on the Internet] 6th edn., US Government Printing Office: Washington, DC January 2005, http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/document/Accessed 7 June 2007.

  • Zelman K, Kennedy E (2005). Naturally nutrient rich…putting more power on Americans' plates. Nutr Today 40, 60–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

A Drewnowski was supported in part by funds from the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the National Dairy Council. This work was carried out with financial support of the ANR-Agence Nationale de la Recherche—The French National Research Agency under the Programme National de Recherche en Alimentation et nutrition humaine, project ANR-07-PNRA-018, ALIMINFO.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Public Health Nutrition and the Nutritional Sciences Program, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    A Drewnowski

  2. INRA, UMR1260, Nutriments Lipidiques et Prévention des Maladies Métaboliques, Marseille, France

    M Maillot & N Darmon

  3. INSERM, U476, Marseille, France

    M Maillot & N Darmon

  4. Univ Aix-Marseille 1, Univ Aix-Marseille 2, Faculté de Médecine, IPHM-IFR 125, Marseille, France

    M Maillot & N Darmon

Authors
  1. A Drewnowski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M Maillot
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. N Darmon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A Drewnowski.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Drewnowski, A., Maillot, M. & Darmon, N. Testing nutrient profile models in relation to energy density and energy cost. Eur J Clin Nutr 63, 674–683 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2008.16

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2008.16

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links