New Report Recommends a Points-Based Nutrition Rating System

Friday, 10/21/2011 at 10:34:12 AM

Most of us are used to flipping a food package over and taking a look-see at the nutrition label. But what if you could quickly glance at a food and just have one number or graphic image to judge its nutritional value? Wouldn't that make eating healthy easier? Well, that's just what a new study commissioned by Congress is recommending.

The new report urges federal agencies to develop a new front-of-package nutrition rating system for all food and beverage packaging that graphically conveys calorie counts by serving size and a "point" value. This point system would take into consideration saturated and trans fats, sodium and added sugars, according to ScienceDaily.

In a nutshell, this new system would be like an Energy Star equivalent for foods and beverages. Just as people can make decisions on which products are more environmentally friendly with the Energy Star, consumers could choose healthier foods by just looking for this graphic or points number.

Researchers recommend a rating system where the more points a food or beverage has, the healthier it is. Additionally, foods and beverages should pass a separate set of criteria to determine if they are eligible to earn points at all, according to the report. So, for example, 100 percent whole-wheat bread could qualify for all three points, while graham crackers could earn two points for having levels of sodium and saturated and trans fats that are below the recommended healthy diet levels. A soda, while having low sodium and no saturated or trans fats, could not earn points because its added sugar content is too high.

We're curious to see if this type of rating systems actually comes to fruition. Would you like to see it? Would you use it?

Jennipher Walters is the CEO and co-founder of the healthy living websites FitBottomedGirls.com and FitBottomedMamas.com. A certified personal trainer, lifestyle and weight management coach and group exercise instructor, she also holds an MA in health journalism and regularly writes about all things fitness and wellness for various online publications.