In this article, we will explain the WHO Nutrient Profile Model, as it is the basis for the first part of GoGoCo’s food scoring system.
The WHO (World Health Organization) it's a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health.
Its primary role is to coordinate international health efforts, respond to health emergencies, set norms and standards, provide technical assistance, and conduct research to improve global health outcomes.
In July 2013, Ministers of Health of WHO gathered in Vienna at the WHO European Ministerial Conference on Nutrition and Noncommunicable Diseases in the Context of Health 2020 and define the measures that need to be taken to prevent overweight and obesity, especially in children.
As a result, they drafted this document with a committee of renowned scientists for use or adaptation by Member WHO States throughout Europe, aimed at restricting products that exceed these limits' ability to advertising and market toward children.
Since publication of the first model, four countries: Austria, Portugal, Slovenia and Turkey; and four of the other WHO regional offices in Eastern Mediterranean, Western Pacific, South East Asia and Africa, have adapted it for national restrictions on food marketing to children, and other countries are considering doing so as well.
Nutrient profiling is defined by the WHO as:
"the science of classifying or ranking foods according to their nutritional composition for reasons related to preventing disease and promoting health.”
This allows us to determine whether a product is or isn't part of a healthy diet.
With it, the WHO established 18 categories of foods and for each of these categories employed a series of limits regarding energy density (calories), the amount of fats and saturated fats, the presence of sugar or sweeteners, and the amount of salt. If a food exceeds the established limits for its category, the food itself is NOT categorized as a good choice from a nutritional standpoint.
One of the most striking aspects of this system is that there is a category for which no limits of energy (calories) and nutrients are established. This category is for fruits, vegetables, and fresh or frozen legumes: all are healthy regardless of their composition!
Hopefully, all health administrations will use this system, as GoCoCo does, to convey messages to the population on the front of pack labeling of foods.
1. Chocolate and sugar confectionery, energy bars, sweet toppings, and desserts
2. Cakes, sweet biscuits and pastries; other sweet bakery wares; and dry mixes for making such
3. Savoury snacks
4a)Juices
4b)Dairy milk drinks
4c)Plant-based milks
4d)Energy drinks
4e)Soft drinks, bottled waters, and other drinks
5. Edible ices
6. Breakfast cereals
7. Yogurt, sour milk, cream, and similar foods
8. Cheese
9. Ready-made and convenience foods and composite dishes
10. Butter, other fats, and oils
11. Bread, bread products, and crispbreads
12. Fresh or dried pasta, rice, and grains
13. Fresh and frozen meat, poultry, fish, and similar
14. Processed meat, poultry, fish, and similar
15. Fresh and frozen fruit, vegetables, and legumes
16. Processed fruit and vegetables
17. Savoury plant-based foods/meat analogues
18. Sauces, dips, and dressings
As mentioned before, these food categories have their corresponding nutrient limits per 100 grams of product: If the product in each category exceeds the established limit, it would not be considered part of a healthy diet and should not be promoted in children's marketing.
At GoCoCo, we have modified the section on dairy products. We have adjusted the fat limits because there is no clear scientific consensus regarding whether whole dairy products are healthier than skimmed ones.
