Table 1.
Terms used to describe ‘foods to limit’ in current national FBDG
| Type of term | n | % | Examples of terms | Definition provided n | % | Definition example(s) | Date range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nutrient-based terms | 78 | 91 | • Sugar/sugary foods and drinks/foods and drinks high in sugar • Salt/Na/foods high in salt • Fat/fatty foods/foods high in fat • Alcohol • Saturated fats • Trans fats • Cholesterol • Discretionary choices • Empty calories |
13 | 17 |
“Empty calories… are not necessary for a balanced diet and can even harm your health if taken too much”
(49). “Discretionary choices are high in saturated fat (natural or added) and/or added sugars or salt or alcohol. These foods and drinks can contribute many kilojoules and displace other more nutritious foods from the diet. Many have low levels of essential nutrients” (48). |
1991–2021 |
| Food examples | 60 | 70 | • Sugary drinks • Butter and margarine • Condiments • Meat products • Red meat • Fried foods • Snacks • Instant soups • Alcoholic beverages • Beverages |
2 | 3 | “Alcoholic beverages contain ethyl alcohol or ethanol, supply energy – 7 kcal or 29 kJ/g ethanol, but do not provide essential nutrients…” (50) | 1991–2021 |
| Processing-related terms | 22 | 26 | • Ultra-processed foods • Highly processed foods • Processed meats • Processed foods • Processed food and drinks • Processed sauces • Processed foods rich in salt, sugar and fats |
5 | 22 | “Ultra-processed foods are industrial formulations made entirely or mostly from substances extracted from foods… derived from food constituents… or synthesised in laboratories from food substrates or other organic sources…” (34) | 2008–2020 |
| Total | 86 FBDG | ||||||
FBDG, food-based dietary guidelines.