02307nas a2200409 4500000000100000008004100001260001700042100001400059700001800073700001700091700001400108700001500122700001700137700001500154700001400169700001600183700001300199700001700212700001400229700002500243700001500268700001300283700002400296700001400320700001600334700001400350700001800364700001300382700001800395700002200413700001500435700001900450245011000469250001500579520125700594020004601851 2011 d c2296360018591 aLi Nicole1 aCzernichow S.1 aMacGregor G.1 aMaulik P.1 aMetzler A.1 aWolmarans P.1 aSnowdon W.1 aL'Abbe M.1 aBarquera S.1 aSchoj V.1 aAllemandi L.1 aSamman N.1 aE. de Menezes Wenzel1 aHassell T.1 aOrtiz J.1 aJ. de Ariza Salazar1 aRahman A.1 ade Nunez L.1 aGarcia M.1 avan Rossum C.1 aThiam L.1 aC. Mhurchu Ni1 aDunford Elizabeth1 aNeal Bruce1 aWebster Jacqui00aInternational collaborative project to compare and monitor the nutritional composition of processed foods a2011/10/063 a

Background: Chronic diseases are the leading cause of premature death and disability in the world with overnutrition a primary cause of diet-related ill health. Excess energy intake, saturated fat, sugar, and salt derived from processed foods are a major cause of disease burden. Our objective is to compare the nutritional composition of processed foods between countries, between food companies, and over time. Design: Surveys of processed foods will be done in each participating country using a standardized methodology. Information on the nutrient composition for each product will be sought either through direct chemical analysis, from the product label, or from the manufacturer. Foods will be categorized into 14 groups and 45 categories for the primary analyses which will compare mean levels of nutrients at baseline and over time. Initial commitments to collaboration have been obtained from 21 countries. Conclusions: This collaborative approach to the collation and sharing of data will enable objective and transparent tracking of processed food composition around the world. The information collected will support government and food industry efforts to improve the nutrient composition of processed foods around the world.

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