Nutrition Labelling and the Elderly

1. Nutrition Labelling and the Elderly

2. Problems of the Elderly • Bodily function changes along with ageing. • Eating problems can result in an imbalanced diet that may subsequently affect nutritional status. • Increased risk of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart diseases. • Other common problems among the elderly, e.g. • Osteoporosis • Constipation

3. Osteoporosis • Osteoporosis is a metabolic disease of bone. • It leads to a reduction in bone density, and the affected bones become thinner and are more likely to break (fracture). • It may result in pain and other complications, including loss of independence. (Source of information: Department of Health)

4. Osteoporosis • As it is necessary to build strong and healthy bones starting at an early age, everyone should maintain balanced diet and perform regular exercise over a lifetime to avoid osteoporosis later in life. • Balanced diet • Eat calcium-rich foods • Ensure adequate vitamin D intake • Avoid salty (high sodium) food which affects calcium absorption (Source of information: Department of Health)

5. Constipation • If the faeces are very hard or if there is great difficulty in passing it out, then it is constipation. • Peristalsis of the intestine in the elderly is usually weakened, hence they are more prone to constipation. • Inadequate water or lack of fibre in food leads to hard faeces. (Source of information: Department of Health)

6. Constipation Eating tips • Take a high fibre diet • Drink adequate fluid like water, soup and fruit juice. • Exercise everyday can help increase peristaltic movement of the bowel; be relaxed. (Source of information: Department of Health)

7. Nutrition Labelling and the Elderly • The use of nutrition labelling can help the elderly and their carers choose suitable foods

8. Read and Use Nutrition Labels

9. Examples of Recommended Format of Nutrition Label 1 7 Tabular format

10. Examples of Recommended Format of Nutrition Label Linear format (for small packages with total surface area of less than 200 cm2)

11. Required Nutrients on Nutrition Labels • 1+7 (energy plus seven nutrients specified for labelling) – i.e. energy,protein, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, carbohydrates, sugars and sodium. • Nutrient(s) involved in nutrition claim(s) (when the nutrition claim is on any type of fat, the amount of cholesterol must be declared as well). • For other nutrients, declaration is voluntary.

12. Making Use of Nutrition Label Consumers can: • Compare the nutritional content among different foods for a healthier choice, e.g. to choose food that is lower in fat, sodium (or salt) and sugars. • Understand the nutritional content of food and estimate their contribution to the overall diet. • To meet individual’s dietary needs.

13. Three Simple Steps to Read Nutrition Label

14. Three Simple Steps to Read Nutrition Label Step 1 • Take note of the reference amount of food being used in the nutrition label Step2 • Read the energy and nutrient content together with the reference amount Step3 • Refer to the percentage Nutrient Reference Value (%NRV), if available, to see if the food contains a lot or a little of energy or a nutrient in the food

15. Step 1: Take note of the reference amount of food being used in the nutrition label • Expressed as per 100 g (or per 100 mL) of food

16. Step 1: Take note of the reference amount of food being used in the nutrition label • Expressed as per serving (the serving size (in g or mL) and the no. of servings must be specified on the package)

17. Step 1: Take note of the reference amount of food being used in the nutrition label • Expressed as per package (if the package contains only a single serving)

18. Step 2: Read the energy and nutrient content together with the reference amount • Use nutrition label to compare between products • Use nutrition label to calculate the amount of energy and nutrients you get from food

19. Step 2A:Use nutrition label to compare between products (Partial) Nutrition label of Brand A biscuit (Partial) Nutrition label of Brand C biscuit • Products with nutritional content expresssed in the SAME reference amount If reference amount is the SAME, you CAN COMPARE between the products DIRECTLY

20. Step 2A:Use nutrition label to compare between products (Partial) Nutrition label of Brand A biscuit (Partial) Nutrition label of Brand D biscuit • Products with nutritional content expresssed in DIFFERENT reference amounts If reference amounts are DIFFERENT, you CANNOT COMPARE between the products DIRECTLY

21. Step 2A: Use nutrition label to compare between products • Products with nutritional content expresssed in DIFFERENT reference amounts

22. Step 2B: Use nutrition label to calculate the amount of energy and nutrients you get from food • The more you eat, the more you get • If you eat 1 serving of biscuit • Get 8 g of fat, 3.5 g of saturated fat • If you eat 2 servings of biscuit • Get 16 g of fat, 7 g of saturated fat

23. Step 2B: Use nutrition label to calculate the amount of energy and nutrients you get from food • Energy and nutrient content expressed as per 100 g/mL

24. Step 3: Refer to the percentage Nutrient Reference Value (%NRV), if available, to see if the food contains a lot or a little of energy or a nutrient in the food • %NRV is usually on a scale from 0% to 100%.

25. Step 3: Refer to the percentage Nutrient Reference Value (%NRV), if available, to see if the food contains a lot or a little of energy or a nutrient in the food • For nutrients that needed to limit their intake • E.g. total fat, saturated fat, sodium and sugars • Look for foods that have lower %NRV • Get enough of nutrients that are good for health • E.g. dietary fibre • Look for foods that have higher %NRV

26. Use Nutrition Label to Choose Prepackaged Food Suitable for the Elderly

28. Principles of Healthy Eating • Choose a variety of food and eat cereals as the largest portion of food in every meal. • Eat a lot of vegetables and fruit. • Reduce the consumption of foodstuffs with high salt, fat and sugar content as well as those which are preserved. • A daily fluid intake of 6 to 8 glasses (including clear soup, fruit juice and tea). • Take meals regularly and in adequate amounts. (Source of information: Department of Health)

29. Nutrition Labelling is a Useful Tool for Practising Healthy Eating • Nutrition label and nutrition claim can help the elderly choose suitable prepackaged food in accordance with healthy eating principles, as well as their own physical conditions and dietary modification, e.g. • Choose food lower in fat, sodium (or salt) and sugars (“3 Low”) • Choose food higher in calcium • Choose food higher in dietary fibre

30. Choose Prepackaged Food Suitable for the Elderly • Use nutrition claim as a quick screening tool; and • Take three simple steps to read nutrition label

31. Use Nutrition Claim to Choose Suitable Prepackaged Food The words below are considered as synonyms for nutrition claims, they may help the elderly choose food lower in fat, sodium and sugars:

32. Use Nutrition Claim to Choose Suitable Prepackaged Food The words below are considered as synonyms for nutrition claims, they may help the elderly choose food higher in calcium and dietary fibre:

33. Use Nutrition Label to Choose Suitable Prepackaged Food Three Simple Steps to Read Nutrition Label Step 1 • Take note of the reference amount of food being used in the nutrition label Step 2 • Read and compare the nutritional content Step 3 • Refer to the percentage Nutrient Reference Value (%NRV) (If available)

34. How to Choose Prepackaged Food Suitable for the Elderly – Example 1 Milk Beverage A Milk Beverage B

35. How to Choose Prepackaged Food Suitable for the Elderly – Example 2 Corn Flakes C Corn Flakes D

36. How to Choose Prepackaged Food Suitable for the Elderly – Example 3 Biscuit E Biscuit F

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