Dietary Glycaemic Index Labelling: A Global Perspective
Abstract
:1. Introduction
- (a)
- Nutrition content claims. These are claims that are about the presence or absence of, a macronutrient (protein, fat, carbohydrate or fibre), energy, a micronutrient (vitamin or mineral), or biologically active substance.
- (b)
- Health claims. These are claims that state, suggest or imply that a food or a property of the food has, or may have, a health effect (biochemical, physiological or functional process or outcome).
- (c)
- Endorsements. These are nutrition content claims or health claims that are made with the permission of an endorsing body, which is a not-for-profit entity that has a nutrition- or health-related purpose or function.
2. Materials and Methods
3. Results
3.1. Australia and New Zealand
3.2. Africa
- i.
- may only be used for foodstuffs with a total glycaemic carbohydrate content of 40% or more of the total energy value of the foodstuff; and
- ii.
- may, if used, only be indicated as low, intermediate or high glycaemic index or low, intermediate or high GI, in the table with nutritional information or when used as part of a logo, provided the Glycaemic Index category corresponds with certain conditions (Table 2.)
3.3. Asia
3.3.1. China
3.3.2. Singapore
3.4. North America
3.4.1. Canada
3.4.2. USA
3.4.3. Europe
“A. considering that several scientific studies show that diets which avoid high glycaemic peaks after meals are associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes, CVD and obesity;B.considering that one of the simplest and most efficient methods to control postprandial glycemia is slowing the dietary carbohydrate absorption by choosing low glycaemic index (GI) foods;C.considering that, in order for consumers to make informed choices, some extra-European countries allow labelling foods that have low GIs and healthy nutritional profiles in line with dietary guidelines, and that such labelling appears to improve the well-being of the general population and in particular of people with diabetes;D.asks the European Commission to adopt the necessary measures to guarantee the presence of a low glycaemic index symbol (Low GI) on the label of food products in Europe in order to improve healthy food choices with the aim of reducing the risk of diet-related disease and complications, and health costs in Europe.”
3.5. Global Summary
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Glycaemic Index | (a) The Food Meets the NPSC [Nutrient Profiling Scoring Criterion] Unless the Food is a Food Standardised by Part 2.9 of the [Food Standards] Code; and (b) the Claim or the Nutrition Information Panel under Standard 1.2.8 Includes the Numerical Value of the Glycaemic Index of the Food. | |
---|---|---|
Low | The numerical value of the glycaemic index of the food is 55 or below. | |
Medium | The numerical value of the glycaemic index of the food is at least 56 and not exceeding 69. | |
High | The numerical value of the glycaemic index of the food is 70 or above. |
GI Category Claim | Condition |
---|---|
Low GI | GI value: 0 to 55 |
Intermediate GI | GI value: 56 to 69 |
High GI | GI value: 70 and more |
Countries | Use of Glycaemic Index Claims | Regulatory References |
---|---|---|
Cambodia | No regulation related to GI claim | |
China | No regulation related to GI claim A “GI labeling specifications on pre-packaged foods” group standard is in progress. A Recommended industrial standard, WS/T 652-2019 Standard for determination of food glycemic index, was published in 2019 and is in force. |
|
India | Low GI claim permitted |
|
Indonesia | Test method protocol for GI determination was previously included in the 2011 claims regulation, but it has been removed in the latest 2016 claim regulation |
|
Japan | No regulation related to GI claim | |
Korea | No regulation related to GI claim | |
Malaysia | No regulation related to GI claim | |
Philippines | No regulation related to GI claim | |
Singapore | Low GI claim permitted for several food categories under Healthier Choice Symbol scheme (cereals; legumes, nuts and seeds; convenience meals) |
|
Taiwan | No regulation related to GI claim | |
Thailand | No regulation related to GI claim | |
Vietnam | No regulation related to GI claim |
European Country | Dietary Reference Values on GI |
---|---|
France | The 2004 document from the French Agency ANSES concluded that the level of evidence is insufficient to provide indications on GI based on health benefits for the general population and prohibited the use of GI labelling or any derived measures [60] |
Germany | The German Nutrition Society 2012 carbohydrate guideline document reported that: “to date there is only possible evidence regarding a risk-increasing effect of high Glycaemic Index on some nutrition-related diseases. Therefore, no recommendations are made in that respect” [61]. |
Nordic Countries | The Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2012 concluded that “There is not enough evidence that choosing foods with low Glycaemic Index will decrease the risk of chronic diseases in the population overall. However, there is suggestive evidence that ranking food based on their Glycaemic Index might be of use for overweight and obese individuals” [62]. |
Italy | The 2014 DRVs from the Italian Society of Human Nutrition, included under “Suggested Dietary Targets” generic qualitative indications on preference for low-GI foods when intakes of carbohydrates approach the upper limit of intake, i.e., 60% energy. They also specified the need of preferentially selecting low GI foods provided the GI was not reduced by adding fructose and/or fat [63]. |
UK | In 2015, The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition published a comprehensive opinion on carbohydrate and health [64]. Although it recognised that both lower GI and GL diets were associated with a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes, the Committee concluded that “it is not possible to assign cause-effect relationships for outcomes based on variation in diet Glycaemic Index or Load, as higher or lower GI and GL diets differ in many ways other than just the carbohydrate fraction”. |
Country | GI Nutrition Content Claim in Food Regulations | GI Endorsement Program | Registered/Certified Trademark * | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | Yes, Since 2013. Nationally regulated. | Yes, since 2002. | Yes, Glycemic Index Foundation (Australia). | Low GI nutrient content claims, low GI Symbols are applied on a voluntary basis. Product must meet stringent nutrient criteria and the GI value must be measured in vivo by a GI testing laboratory according to either the Australian Standard (AS 4694—2007) or the International Standard (ISO 26642:2010). |
Canada | No | No | Yes, Glycemic Index Foundation (Australia). | Diabetes Canada started work on endorsing a Low GI symbol in 2015. |
China | Yes, since 2019. No national regulation. | In development. | In development, Chinese Nutrition Society. | |
European Countries | No | No | Yes, Glycemic Index Foundation (Australia). | Reductions in postprandial glycaemia is considered a health claim. The health claim can only be incorporated into well-characterised food ingredients. A resolution motion on Low GI symbol program was sent to the EU Commission in 2018. Future potential to include GI in front-of-pack label in France. Currently, GI on food labels in Italy is not permitted in the absence of an authorised health claim for postprandial glycaemia for that food or one of its ingredients. |
Hong Kong | No | No | Yes, Glycemic Index Foundation (Australia). | |
India | Yes, Since 2018. | No | Yes, Glycemic Index Foundation (Australia). | |
Indonesia | No | No | Yes, Glycemic Index Foundation (Australia). | |
Japan | No | No | Yes, Glycemic Index Foundation (Australia). | |
Malaysia | No | No | Yes, Glycemic Index Foundation (Australia). | |
New Zealand | Yes, Since 2013. Nationally regulated. | Yes, since 2002. | Yes, Glycemic Index Foundation (Australia). | Low GI nutrient content claims, Low GI Symbols are applied on a voluntary basis. Product must meet stringent nutrient criteria, and the GI value must be measured in vivo by a GI testing laboratory according to either the Australian Standard (AS 4694—2007) or the International Standard (ISO 26642:2010). |
Singapore | Yes | No | Yes, Glycemic Index Foundation (Australia). | Low GI claims are allowed in specific food categories with category-specific nutrient criteria. |
South Africa | Yes, 2002–2011. Under review 2014—present. | Yes, Glycaemic Index Foundation of South Africa (GIFSA) since 2000. | GIFSA Trademark pending | A range of GI symbols (Very low GI; Low GI; Medium GI and High GI) are applied on a voluntary basis. Products must meet nutrient specification criteria, and the GI value must be measured according to the International Standard (ISO 26642:2010) |
Taiwan | No | No | Yes, Glycemic Index Foundation (Australia). | |
USA | No specific national regulations. | No | Yes, Glycemic Index Foundation (Australia). | GI is not defined by the United States Food and Drug Administration for regulatory labelling. As a result, GI claims may be permitted under the general false and misleading provisions of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, which mandates that all labelling is truthful, evidence-based and not misleading. |
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Share and Cite
Barclay, A.W.; Augustin, L.S.A.; Brighenti, F.; Delport, E.; Henry, C.J.; Sievenpiper, J.L.; Usic, K.; Yuexin, Y.; Zurbau, A.; Wolever, T.M.S.; et al. Dietary Glycaemic Index Labelling: A Global Perspective. Nutrients 2021, 13, 3244. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13093244
Barclay AW, Augustin LSA, Brighenti F, Delport E, Henry CJ, Sievenpiper JL, Usic K, Yuexin Y, Zurbau A, Wolever TMS, et al. Dietary Glycaemic Index Labelling: A Global Perspective. Nutrients. 2021; 13(9):3244. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13093244
Chicago/Turabian StyleBarclay, Alan W., Livia S. A. Augustin, Furio Brighenti, Elizabeth Delport, C. Jeyakumar Henry, John L. Sievenpiper, Kathy Usic, Yang Yuexin, Andreea Zurbau, Thomas M.S. Wolever, and et al. 2021. "Dietary Glycaemic Index Labelling: A Global Perspective" Nutrients 13, no. 9: 3244. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13093244