Current location:sport >>
Beverage grading system launched in Shanghai
sport29234People have gathered around
IntroductionShanghai recently introduced China's first grading system that evaluates the nutritional value of be ...
Shanghai recently introduced China's first grading system that evaluates the nutritional value of beverages, as part of efforts to guide residents toward more informed and healthier drink choices.
The Nutri-Grade system, guided by the Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, rates beverages from A to D based on their content of four key nutrients - added sugar, saturated fat, trans fat and non-sugar sweeteners. Beverages receiving a lower grade contain higher amounts of sugar, saturated fat and other unhealthy additives.
The overall grade is determined by whichever of the four nutrient classes receives the lowest score. For example, a drink with an A grade for trans fats but a C grade for added sugar would receive an overall C rating.
While plain unsweetened teas often qualify for the top grade, drinks with artificial sweeteners cannot achieve an A rating. Trials also show that factors like container size and amount of added ice can have an impact on a beverage's final score.
The need for such a system is clear. According to the Shanghai CDC, 67 percent of adults and 90 percent of primary and secondary school students in the city regularly consume sugar-sweetened beverages.
Gao Boyan, a food science researcher at Shanghai Jiaotong University, said the grading criteria were likely selected based on China's dietary guidelines for preventing obesity, as added sugars and fats are the main contributing factors.
Zang Jiajie, head of Shanghai CDC's nutrition department, said the ratings aimed to "raise public awareness of what constitutes a balanced diet".
Major milk tea brands like Chagee and Naixue have already incorporated the Nutri-Grade system on their menus. Customers can easily see the drink's nutritional grade by clicking on the details in the corner of the image.
The Shanghai CDC previously analyzed 122 milk tea products from 13 brands. It found that under the new system, over 93 percent of those claiming "no added sugar "could receive a B grade or better, while nearly half of those claiming"30 percent sugar" would score a C or better due to sugar content alone.
While only four beverage makers have adopted the labels so far, others are taking action. Local tea milk brand Auntie Jenny recently reformulated one of its products, reducing sugar by 31.5 percent ahead of the grading requirements.
Zang said that after the initial pilot brands, more companies including Starbucks are in discussions to adopt the labeling system. Shanghai also plans to explore the display of beverages grouped by Nutri-Grade rating in community canteens and chain stores to guide healthy consumption habits.
Health experts view the straightforward Nutri-Grade system as an important step toward empowering Shanghai residents to make smarter beverage choices and addressing the overconsumption of unhealthy sugary drinks.
The Nutri-Grade system's selection of key nutrients to evaluate is very important from a nutritional standpoint, especially regarding added sugars. Notably, it excludes naturally occurring lactose from dairy products while flagging saturated and trans fats — all meaningful factors, according to Gu Zhongyi, a nutritionist at the Beijing Dietetic Association.
"To my knowledge, no such nonbusiness nutritional labeling policy has been fully implemented on the Chinese mainland before despite similar guidance from the World Health Organization and previous related research. Overall, I support Shanghai taking this pilot initiative," he added.
For average consumers unfamiliar with reading nutrition labels, the graded rating is easier to understand, Gu said.
"However, I would encourage people to learn general rules for nutrition labeling of prepackaged food so that they can properly read lists of ingredients and nutrition facts," he said.
(Editor:Fu Bo)
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Culture Craft news portal”。http://bermuda.downmusic.org/news-46a599900.html
Related articles
Sarah Jessica Parker divides opinion with enormous hat on set of And Just Like That
sportSarah Jessica Parker and her character Carrie Bradshaw seem to love pushing fashion boundaries, and ...
【sport】
Read moreRelics tumble out of wall at Longmen Grottoes
sportCaves: Relics shed light on Tang Dynasty Buddhist artArchaeologists have made a stunning discovery o ...
【sport】
Read moreVirtues 'Cultivate' Family Members into Better People
sportContact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom ...
【sport】
Read more
Popular articles
- Ship that caused Baltimore bridge collapse has been refloated
- Promoting Greater Understanding of TCM Culture in France
- Ganzhou: Cradle of Hakka Culture
- Singing About a World with 'Beauty and Togetherness'
- Insider Q&A: CIA's chief technologist's cautious embrace of generative AI
- Establishing China's First Private Restaurant
Latest articles
‘The Blue Angels,’ filmed for IMAX, puts viewers in the ‘box’ with the elite flying squad
Party Members Warm People's Hearts with Voluntary Services
Federation's Role in Advancing Children's All
Singing About a World with 'Beauty and Togetherness'
FDIC chairman Martin Gruenberg to step down, White House says
Flight Attendant Escorts Overseas Chinese on Return Home
LINKS
- Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce doing Coachella in style! They will be staying at a TOP luxury members
- 'It's Rory Delass!' Republic of Ireland's Megan Campbell wows fans with her catapult 38
- Spy agency's surveillance powers too broad, Inspector
- Fans slam 'JOKE' of a penalty given to Bukayo Saka in footage of the Arsenal star winning a spot
- Atletico Madrid star reveals the footballers'
- Video: How Hong Kong film directors are navigating a new era of censorship
- Thierry Henry blames Declan Rice for Bayern Munich's opener at the Emirates
- Kris Jenner, 68, looks chic in D&G dress for 'date night' with longtime boyfriend Corey Gamble, 43
- Paulo Dybala mocks Matteo Guendouzi by during ill
- Cristiano Ronaldo swaps red card rage for beach tranquility as Al