Guiding Stars updates nutrition guidance program for improved beverage choices

09 Mar 2022 --- Guiding Stars is unveiling an updated version of its nutrition guidance program algorithm that determines the number of stars US foods and beverages receive based on their healthiness.

Guiding Stars uses a scientific advisory panel to monitor current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and recommendations from national and international health organizations to change algorithms to evaluate F&B.

The update now allows low- and no-calorie beverages, such as water and flavored seltzers, to be eligible for stars, enabling consumers to make smarter choices while shopping. Unsweetened teas, unsweetened coffee, coconut water, kombucha and 100% juices have also been included as new star-earning beverages.

“For more than 15 years, Guiding Stars has been helping shoppers make nutritious choices, guiding manufacturers to improve their recipes and enabling food retailers to meet their customers’ desire for options that promote good health,” says Julie Greene, director of Guiding Stars.

“Through the launch of this new algorithm, we are now able to provide more guidance for shoppers.”

Guiding Stars nutrition guidance icons help consumers when shopping in stores and online. The program utilizes one star for good, two stars for better and three stars for best nutritional value.

The icons can be found at over 2,000 grocery stores across the US. Retailers can use Guiding Stars to record sales of products that meet an objective, science-based nutritional value criterion.

Monitoring dietary guidelines
“We’ll continue to monitor the latest scientific evidence, policies and regulations to evolve our nutrition guidance program to meet the changing needs of retailers and their customers,” adds Greene.

Based on a thorough examination of scientific evidence on the importance of beverage choices for promoting health and preventing chronic disease, the advisory panel suggested the beverage algorithm upgrade.The program utilizes one star for good, two stars for better and three stars for best nutritional value.

“Since sugar-sweetened beverages are the greatest contributor of added sugars in the US diet, we aimed to evolve our guidance to identify beverages that provide hydration without increasing the risk of chronic disease,” adds Leslie Fischer, a member of the scientific advisory panel at Guiding Stars.

Allocating stars to beverages process
According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, added sugars account for more than 13% of total calories consumed by the US population daily.

Sugar-sweetened beverages, such as some forms of coffee and tea, are substantial sources of added sugars in average US diets.

The Guiding Stars nutrition guidance program evaluates beverages based on a 12 oz. serving size to curb the lack of consumer knowledge.

Additionally, no sweeteners are used in beverages with the highest possible rating of three Guiding Stars. These beverages also do not contain additives or sodium.

Regulations and initiatives for healthier F&B
Industry has been implementing regulations and calling for more accurate labeling to ensure consumers are aware of the nutritional content in their F&B purchases.

The Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University created the Food Compass, a new nutrition profile system. The tool is designed to encourage customers, food companies, restaurants and cafeterias to pick and provide healthier foods while also assisting government officials in ensuring excellent public nutrition policy.

The European Consumer Organization recently emphasized the importance of correct food labeling in the children’s food industry, citing findings showing packaging for children’s products may endorse bad eating habits.

Following a comprehensive review and meta-analysis, Action on Salt and Sugar urged the UK government to make front-of-pack nutrition labels mandatory as soon as possible to encourage a healthy diet.

By Nicole Kerr