Food labelling - Dietary Reference Values

Question 1

Dietary reference values (DRVs)

Answer 1

Dietary reference values (DRVs) are a set of estimates concerning the amount of macronutrients, micronutrients and energy needed by different groups of helping people. They are not set for highly active or unhealthy individuals

Question 2

DRV Age groups

Answer 2

DRVs have been set for the following groups:
* Girls and boys: aged 0-3 months, 4-6 months, 7-9 months, 10-12 months, 1-3 years, 4-6 years, 7-10 years
* Females: aged 11-14 years, 15-18 years, 19-50 years, 50+ years, pregnancy and breastfeeding
* Males: Aged 11-14 years, 15-18 years, 19-50 years, 50+ years

Question 3

DRV Estimates

Answer 3

Included within DRVs are four types of estimates:
1. EAR (Estimated average requirement)
2. RNI (Reference nutrient intake)
3. LRNI (lower recommended nutritional intake)
4. Safe intake

Question 4

EAR (Estimated average requirement)

Answer 4

Needed by a group (I.e. about 50% of people will need less and 50% will need more)

Question 5

RNI (Reference nutrient intake)

Answer 5

97.5% of the population’s requirement is met

Question 6

LRNI (Lower recommended nutritional intake)

Answer 6

Only 2.5% of the population’s requirement is met, i.e. most need more

Question 7

Safe intake

Answer 7

Used where there is not enough evidence to set an EAR, RNI or LRNI. An amount considered to be enough for most people but below a level that could have undesirable effects

Question 8

DRV limitations

Answer 8

DRVs give a ballpark figure of how much of a nutrient a person needs.
* However, they don’t guide the person to a nutritious food source
* E.g. The DRV protein is 50 g per adult on a 2000 caloriea-day diet (regardless of age or sex) – 200ml glass of milk plus 2 sausages = approx.. 50g protein. But is the optimal nutrition?
* In choosing the source of protein it is imperative to consider quality, nutrients synergy, absorption

Question 9

DRVs and Optimum Nutrition

Answer 9

DRVs are set at levels to maintain health
* A nutritionist aims to promote optimal health
* Optimal intake: The ‘intake that maximises physiological and mental function and minimizes the development of degenerative diseases”
Criteria of optimum nutrition:
* The level that prevents deficiency symptoms
* The level that optimizes body stores of the nutrient
* The level that optimizes biochemical and physiological function
* The level that minimizes a risk factor for chronic disease
* The level that minimizes the incidence of a disease

Question 10

The purpose of DRVs

Answer 10

What are DRVs for?
* To assist governments to make decisions on food policy
* Provision of food aid or supplements
* To inform decisions on fortification of foods
* To promote nutritional education and informative labels
* To assist the food industry in developing and marketing products
* For researchers and health professionals to assess the nutritional adequacy of the diet of groups and individuals
* For institutions and caterers to assess the requirements of groups and devise nutritionally adequate menus
* DRVs serve the industry, not the therapist or individual client