Limitations of the Food Compass Nutrient Profiling System

Nutrient Profiling Systems provide frameworks to assess the healthfulness of foods based on food composition and are intended as inputs into strategies to improve diets. Many Nutrient Profiling Systems are founded on a reductionist assumption that the healthfulness of foods is determined by the sum...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of nutrition 2023-03, Vol.153 (3), p.610-614
Main Authors: Ortenzi, Flaminia, Kolby, Marit, Lawrence, Mark, Leroy, Frédéric, Nordhagen, Stella, Phillips, Stuart M., van Vliet, Stephan, Beal, Ty
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algorithms
Animal Feed
Animal-based foods
Diet
Food
Food compass
Food composition
food rating system
Food sources
Investment
micronutrient deficiencies
nutrient profiling system
Nutrients
Nutrition
Nutritive Value
Processed foods
ultraprocessed foods
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Summary:Nutrient Profiling Systems provide frameworks to assess the healthfulness of foods based on food composition and are intended as inputs into strategies to improve diets. Many Nutrient Profiling Systems are founded on a reductionist assumption that the healthfulness of foods is determined by the sum of their individual nutrients, with no consideration for the extent and purpose of processing and its health implications. A novel Nutrient Profiling System called Food Compass attempted to address existing gaps and provide a more holistic assessment of the healthfulness of foods. We propose that the chosen algorithm is not well justified and produces results that fail to discriminate for common shortfall nutrients, exaggerate the risks associated with animal-source foods, and underestimate the risks associated with ultraprocessed foods. We caution against the use of Food Compass in its current form to inform consumer choices, policies, programs, industry reformulations, and investment decisions.
ISSN:0022-3166
1541-6100
DOI:10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.01.027