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Friday 27 August 2010

Traffic Light Adopters & Guideline Daily Amounts (GDA)




reposted from: http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/tladopters0110.pdf via http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/foodlabels/trafficlights/

From the Marks & Spencer label, the Guideline Daily Amounts (GDA) are:
Cals - 2028 (365*100/18), Sugar - 91g, Fat - 69g, Saturated Fat -  20g, Salt - 6g

From McCain, GDA differ

Cals - 1936 (213*100/11), Sugar - 80g, Fat - 76g, Saturated Fat -  17g, Salt - 5g

This is strange since surely the GDA does not differ eg M&S work out at 6g salt and McCains 5g salt. Whats up?



The European review of labelling reference intake values - Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Dietetic Products (1), (detail pdf) recommended Daily Guideline Amounts:- Energy 2000 kcal, Total fat 70g (31.5 E%) of which Saturated fat 20g (9 E%), Carbohydrate 260g (52 E%) of which Sugars 90g (18 E%), Salt 6g.

(1): Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Dietetic products, Nutrition and Allergies on a request from European Commission on the review of labelling reference intake values for selected nutritional elements. The EFSA Journal (2009) 1008, 1-3

Energy 

The proposed labelling reference intake for energy (8400 kJ or 2000 kcal) corresponds to the recommended energy intake for a moderately active woman. 

Total fat 

The proposed labelling reference intake for total fat (70 g) corresponds to 31.5 E% for a 8400 kJ (2000 kcal) diet. This value is within the range of the upper limits of intake of fat (30 – 35 E%) recommended for individuals in the general population in EU countries and by other authorities. It is at the lower end of the range of average total fat intakes in adults observed in EU countries (about 30 - 47 E%). 

Saturated fat 

The proposed labelling reference intake for saturated fat (20 g) corresponds to 9 E% for a 8400 kJ (2000 kcal) diet. This value is consistent with the upper limits of intake of saturated fat (8 - 10 E%) recommended for individuals in the general population in EU countries and by other authorities. It is at the lower end of the range of average saturated fat intakes in adults in EU countries (about 9 - 18 E%).

Carbohydrate 

The proposed labelling reference intake for carbohydrate (230 g) corresponds to 46 E% for a 8400 kJ (2000 kcal) diet. This is less than the lower limits of intake of carbohydrate (generally 50 - 55 E%) recommended for individuals in the general population in EU countries and by other authorities. 

The Panel proposes that the labelling reference intake for carbohydrate be 260 g (corresponding to 52 E% for a 8400kJ or 2000 kcal diet) which is within the range of lower limits of recommended intakes for individuals in the general population and close to the upper end of the range of average carbohydrate intakes in adults in EU countries.  

Sugars 

The proposed labelling reference intake for (total) sugars (90 g) corresponds to 18 E% for a 8400 kJ (2000 kcal) diet. The proposed value is at the lower end of the range of average intakes of total sugars in adults in EU countries (about 17 - 26 E%). Total sugars include both indigenous (sugars naturally present in foods such as fruit, vegetables, cereals and lactose in milk products) and added sugars. There are generally no recommended intakes for total sugars. Some authorities have recommended upper limits of intake of added sugars (generally 10 E%) for individuals in the general population, while others recommend that intake of added sugars, or certain foods containing added sugars, be limited but do not recommend an upper limit. 

It has been estimated that indigenous sugars provided by recommended daily intakes of fruits, vegetables, cereals and dairy products would amount to about 45 g in adults. Assuming that the remaining 45 g of sugars (up to the 90 g proposed for the labelling reference intake) are added sugars, this would correspond to 9 E% for a 8400 kJ or 2000 kcal diet. 

Thus the Panel considers that the proposed labelling reference intake of 90 g for (total) sugars is compatible with a recommended upper limit of intake of added sugars of 10 E% for individuals in the general population as proposed by some authorities. 

Salt 

The proposed labelling reference intake for salt is 6 g. This value is within the range of the upper limits of intakes of salt (generally 5-8 g) recommended in EU countries and by other authorities. It is less than the lower end of the range of average salt intakes in adults in EU countries (about 8-11 g). 

Published: 4 May 2009 


From a table in the detailed efsa report eg Total Fat 70g x 9 kcal/g = 630 kcal which is 31.5% of a 2000kcal diet. Note: 
  • the 230g (46 E%) carbohydrate was substituted for 260g (52 E%) in the final report.
  • big differences (last column) between men and women eg saturated fat 20g for women / 30g for men





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