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Investigating the nutritional value of foods targeting children

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Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the nutritional values of some low-nutrition packaged foods widely sold in supermarkets and encouraged for consumption.

Methods

The study used 435 packaged foods from six hypermarkets with high sale capacities in Ankara to analyze their contents of energy/total fat/saturated fat/carbohydrate/sugar/salt based on label information.

Results

Among the products in the scope of the study, the highest values were found in chocolates for fat (33.0 ± 4.28/100 g) and sugar (45.6 ± 5.95/100 g), wafers for saturated fat (19.2 ± 3.89/100 g), and crackers for sodium (0.9 ± 0.23/100 g). Among the 435 packaged foods investigated in the study, the products exceeded the limits designated in the health codes declared by the Turkish Food Codex Labeling Directive in 83.4% of the instances in terms of sugar, 93.7% of the instances in terms of total fat, 92.4% of the instances in terms of saturated fat, and 70.3% of the instances in terms of sodium.

Conclusion

Energy/fat/sugar/salt contents were high in the packaged products that are especially targeted for children for higher consumption. Children’s frequent and excessive consumption of these products contribute to the prevalence of childhood obesity and increase in related health risks.

Level of Evidence

Level V, descriptive study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara University, Şükriye Mahallesi Plevne Caddesi Aktaş Kavşağı, No: 5, Ankara, Turkey

    Sümeyye Güzel & Alev Keser

  2. Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Faculty of Medicine, Koc University, Davutpaşa Caddesi, No: 4, Topkapı, 34010, İstanbul, Turkey

    Şükrü Hatun

Authors
  1. Sümeyye Güzel
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  2. Alev Keser
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  3. Şükrü Hatun
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Correspondence to Sümeyye Güzel.

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Güzel, S., Keser, A. & Hatun, Ş. Investigating the nutritional value of foods targeting children. Eat Weight Disord 25, 51–58 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-018-0497-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-018-0497-y

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