Evaluation of nutritional pattern profiles of packaged snack foods using three different front of package labeling methods

This study was planned and conducted to evaluate the nutritional element pattern profiles of packaged snack foods with three different front-end labeling methods, to identify healthy snacks and to raise awareness among consumers so that they can make healthy choices, and to enable the food industry to reformulate its products. Migros virtual market was preferred for the study. The study included bars, biscuits, corn-based chips, potato-based chips, fruit-vegetable chips, legume (lentil-chickpea)-based chips, chocolates, wafers, cakes, crackers, nuts, breakfast cereals, fruit-based snacks, popcorn and confectionery. Energy and nutritional elements of snack products were recorded on the form, taking into account 100-gram label data. Then, the evaluations were made according to the Nutri-score, Choices Program and Traffic Signs nutrient pattern profiles. Data analysis was done with IBM SPSS v27. In the presentation of quantitative data, mean±standard deviation and minimum-maximum were given as descriptive statistics. In descriptive statistics for categorical data, n and % are given. The rate of accessing product label data was found to be 89.9%. While popcorn had the most label data available at 100%, other chips had the least label data available at 71.4%. In general, packaged snack products have high energy, carbohydrate, sugar, fat, saturated fatty acid, and trans fatty acid values, while their fiber and protein values are low. When evaluated according to the Nutri-score nutrient pattern profile, 69.6% of all snacks are in categories D and E. When the Choices Program was evaluated according to the nutritional element pattern profile, all chocolates and wafers (100%) and 94.2% of cakes did not meet the criteria in terms of saturated fatty acids; all other snack products except nuts and chocolates (100%) and 99.5% of chocolates did not meet the criteria in terms of total sugar. According to the traffic light labeling system, all chocolates and wafers (100%), 98.8% of cakes and 93.4% of biscuits were found to be red color coded in terms of saturated fatty acids; all wafers (100%), 96.7% of chocolates and 93.2% of chips were found to be red color coded in terms of fat. This study found that packaged snack products are very limited in terms of healthy foods. The public needs to be informed and lawmakers need to take action on the front-of-pack labeling system.