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Difficult of " to compare the apples and oranges" when one browses the alleys at the grocery store. But a new nutritional indication, elaborate to the United States, could permit to value, in a glance, the global qualities of a food. And to make more illuminated choices!

The principle is simple:  like the school bulletins, every food raises a note encoded on the before the label, according to a variable indication of 1 to 100 (100 being the optimal note).

It is what the ONQI indication proposes, for Overall Nutritional Quality Index (ONQI)1, finalized by 12 experts in nutrition of the United States and Canada.

The onqi is calculated according to about thirty quality criteria’s, all recognized by the most recent scientific knowledge concerning food. It holds as account of the different food guides and governmental leading lines in nutrition.

Among the used criteria’s:  the content of every food in fibers, in vitamins and mineral, in greasiness (Trans, saturated, dinosaur, cholesterol), in antioxidants (flavored, carrot, etc.) and in proteins. He/it also takes into account the energizing density and indication glycoside.

Thus, for every food, the data are treated by a mathematical program that establishes, in a neutral way, the indication to display on the food.

According to one the researchers who developed the ONQI indication, the Dr David Katz of the Griffin hospital in the United States, not less than 50 000 products have been valued up to here. He/it estimates that 5 000 grocery stores and American restaurants will have adopted this new tool from the summer 2009 on.

" Some discussions are also in progress with Canadian supermarkets in order to implant some pilot projects" there, indicated the Dr Katz.

Several advantages

This nutritional indication would have the advantage to clarify the relative information to the content of food. " Currently, with the multitude of logos, symbols and allegations on the market, he/it is practically impossible for the consumer to compare food between them", affirm the Dr Katz.

Besides, the ONQI indication would permit to compare food of different categories so much that those of a same food group. " For example, one could believe that the mayonnaise light Hillman’s is more health that the plain, but globally, the plain is to privilege, because she contains less salt than the "alleviated formula distinctly, illustrate David Katz.

Other advantage, according to the Dr Katz,:  " The ONQI indication should push the fragmentary industry naturally to innovate more so that their products get a more elevated result. " Therefore to offer some products more health again.

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