Nutrients | |
The Use of Non-Nutritive and Low-Calorie Sweeteners in 19,915 Local and Imported Pre-Packaged Foods in Hong Kong | |
Billy Yin Sing O1  Jimmy Chun Yu Louie1  Jason H.Y. Wu2  Daisy H. Coyle2  Elizabeth K. Dunford2  | |
[1] Discipline of Food and Nutritional Science, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;Food Policy Division, The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia; | |
关键词: non-nutritive sweeteners; low-calorie sweeteners; intense sweeteners; sugar substitutes; pre-packaged foods; Hong Kong; | |
DOI : 10.3390/nu13061861 | |
来源: DOAJ |
【 摘 要 】
This study aims to examine the use of non-nutritive (NNSs) and low-calorie sweeteners (LCSs) in pre-packaged foods in Hong Kong and the differences in the number of NNSs/LCSs used between products from different regions. In a cross-sectional audit, the types of NNSs/LCSs used in 19,915 pre-packaged foods in Hong Kong were examined by searching the ingredients list of the included products for keywords related to 20 common NNSs/LCSs and their respective E-numbers. Prevalence of use of NNSs and LCSs, the co-presence of NNSs/LCSs and free sugar ingredients (FSI), and the number of NNSs/LCSs used in the included foods were computed. Pearson’s χ2 test was used to compare the total number of NNSs and/or LCSs used in food items from different regions. Sucralose (E955) was the most commonly used NNS (1.9%), followed by acesulfame K (E950, 1.6%). Sorbitol was the most commonly used LCS (2.9%). Overall, the use of LCSs was less common compared with NNSs (3.7% vs. 4.5%). The use of different types of NNSs varied substantially between food types. Notably, 20.2% of potato crisps and 15.2% of other crisps or extruded snacks contained at least one NNS and/or LCS. Co-presence of FSIs and NNSs/LCSs were most common in confectionery (15.7%) and snack foods (15.5%). Asian prepackaged foods were more likely to contain NNSs/LCSs (10.1%) compared with those from other regions. To conclude, NNSs/LCSs were used in a wide range of non-diet pre-packaged products which could be a public health concern due to their higher consumption frequencies than “diet” products.
【 授权许可】
Unknown