Saturday 4 July 2009

Guide to using the model

Monday 6 April 2009

A nutrient profiling model has been developed by the Agency as a tool for categorising foods on the basis of their nutrient content.

This model is what is known as a 'simple scoring' system, where points are allocated on the basis of the nutritional content in 100g of a food or drink.

There are three steps to working out the overall score for the food or drink.

1. Work out total 'A' points

A maximum of ten points can be awarded for each nutrient.

Total 'A' points=(points for energy) + (points for saturated fat) + (points for sugars) + (points for sodium)

The following table indicates the points scored, depending on the content of each nutrient in 100g of the food:

Points Þ
Energy (kJ)
Sat Fat (g)
Total Sugar (g)
Sodium (mg)

≤ 335
≤ 1
≤ 4.5
≤ 90
1
>335
>1
>4.5
>90
2
>670
>2
>9
>180
3
>1005
>3
>13.5
>270
4
>1340
>4
>18
>360
5
>1675
>5
>22.5
>450
6
>2010
>6
>27
>540
7
>2345
>7
>31
>630
8
>2680
>8
>36
>720
9
>3015
>9
>40
>810
10
>3350
>10
>45
>900

If a food or drink scores 11 or more 'A' points then it cannot score points for protein unless it also scores 5 points for fruit, veg and nuts.

2. Work out total 'C' points

A maximum of five points can be awarded for each nutrient/food component.

Total 'C' points=(points for fruit, veg & nut content) + (points for fibre [either NSP or AOAC]) + (points for protein)

The following table indicates the points scored, depending on the content of each nutrient/food component in 100g of the food:

Points Þ
Fruit, Veg & Nuts (%)
NSP Fibre ' (g)
Or AOAC Fibre ' (g)
Protein (g)

≤ 40
≤ 0.7
≤ 0.9
≤ 1.6
1
>40
>0.7
>0.9
>1.6
2
>60
>1.4
>1.9
>3.2
3
-
>2.1
>2.8
>4.8
4
-
>2.8
>3.7
>6.4
5*
>80
>3.5
>4.7
>8.0

*If a food or drink scores 5 points for fruit, veg & nuts the 'A' nutrient cut-off no longer applies.

3. Work out overall score

If a food scores less than 11 'A' points then the overall score is calculated as follows:

Overall score=(total 'A' points) minus (total 'C' points)

If a food scores 11 or more 'A' points but scores 5 points for fruit, vegetables and nuts then the overall score is calculated as follows:

Overall score=(total 'A' points) minus (total 'C' points)

If a food scores 11 or more 'A' points but also scores less than 5 points for fruit, veg and nuts then the overall score is calculated as follows:

Overall score=(total 'A' points) minus (fibre points + fruit, veg and nuts points only) [i.e. not allowed to score points for protein]

A food is classified as 'less healthy' where it scores 4 points or more .
A drink is classified as 'less healthy' where it scores 1 point or more .

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