Developing a context-specific nutrient profiling system for food policy in Samoa

Bibliographic Data

ID22945803
AuthorsErica Reeve (0000-0002-9239-7732, Deakin University, corresponding author), Take Naseri (0000-0002-7633-2269, Office of the Director General, Ministry of Health Samoa, Motootua, Ifiifi Street, Apia, Samoa), Tim Martyn (University of the Sunshine Coast), Caroline Bollars (0000-0002-1010-6031, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism/School for Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, Maastricht 6229, Netherlands), Anne Marie Thow (0000-0002-6460-5864, The University of Sydney), Anne-Marie Thow (The University of Sydney)
Year2019
Volume34
Issue6
Pagese94-e105
Publication date2019-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Promotion International (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0957-4824 • E-ISSN: 1460-2245
PublisherOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/heapro/day089
PMID30388231
OpenAlexW2899476154
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited20

The objective of this study was to develop a transparent system for defining ‘less healthy’ foods to underpin effective policy to reduce noncommunicable diseases in Samoa, replacing a fatty-meat ban lifted for accession to the WTO. In the absence of nutrition survey data, we calculated nutrient availability using food acquisition data from Samoa's Household Income and Expenditure Surveys. Together with published literature and local food composition data, we identified foods and nutrients (i) consumed in amounts greater than those recommended for good health and (ii) with a demonstrated causal link to health conditions of concern. Nutrient thresholds were developed based on desired level of decrease per nutrient per person necessary to reduce population intake in line with specific targets. We found average energy and sodium consumption to be higher than recommended, and foods high in sugar and saturated fat being consumed in large amounts. We selected a threshold-based, category-specific model to provide straightforward policy administration and incentivise healthy production and import, and then applied and tested nutrient thresholds across 7 threshold groups. The validation process indicated that the development of a nutrient profiling system to identify less healthy food items in Samoa provided a stronger basis for local policymaking. This study contributes to global understanding of approaches to developing a robust and transparent basis for policies to improve diets in lower income countries, and is relevant to other settings with high rates of noncommunicable diseases and similar resource and data constraints.

Accession · Biology · Business · Context (archaeology) · Environmental health · Geography · Nutrient · Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling · Ecology · Medicine · Nutritional Studies and Diet · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet