NEW HAVEN, Conn.—Grocery shoppers like foods to be scored based on nutritional value and, especially like a 100-point system, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Health Promotion (2009;24[2]:133–143).
About 800 participants aged 18 to 64 participated in an Internet survey and a two-hour group. They evaluated the Overall Nutritional Quality Index (ONQI), which is based on the overall nutritional quality of food and health effects. The system scores food based on nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids (EFAs) and antioxidants, as well as its fat, sugar, sodium and cholesterol content. For example, broccoli, spinach and strawberries score 100 on ONQI, ground beef comes in at 31 and regular soda scores a 1.
Most (93 percent) of the respondents said the system would be useful purchasing decisions, and 66 percent said they would be more likely to shop at a grocery store that used the system versus one that did not. Almost two-thirds (74 percent) said they would be more likely to purchase a product that used the system over one that did not.
With the recent halt of the Smart Choices Program, the ONQI may be an option for retailers to use to help their shoppers evaluate the health benefits and drawbacks of certain foods.