Abstract
This study compared nutrient intakes from 7-day menus for the US MyPlate and DASH Eating Plan versus the cutoff points for green lights defined by the UK’s multiple traffic light (MTL) scheme. For both diets, the foods achieved green lights for saturated fat and salt, and for beverages for total fat, saturated fat and salt. The other nutrients achieved amber lights but were within the range of the two diets. By contrast, the MTL threshold for salt in beverages was outside the range of the diets. The values for salt in beverages in the MyPlate and Dash diet plans were 0.06±0.07 and 0.19±0.01 (s.d.) g/100 ml, which are both considerably lower compared with the cutoff of 0.3 g/100 ml for an MTL green light. Adjusting the green MTL threshold values to the median values for a healthful diet could help make MTL labelling a more valid way of helping consumers choose a healthful diet.
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The authors are, or have been, employed by Nestlé SA, Vevey, Switzerland.
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HG conceived and carried out the study, performed data analysis and drafted the manuscript. EF carried out the study, performed data analysis and helped draft the manuscript. Both authors approved the final version of the article including authorship.
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Green, H., Fern, E. Comparison of nutrient intakes from two selected diet plans considered healthful versus the cutoff points for green lights as defined by the UK’s multiple traffic light scheme. Eur J Clin Nutr 70, 277–279 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2015.125
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2015.125