Nestlé develops healthy grain ratio concept

Nestlé has developed a nutritional concept that helps consumers understand the levels of carbohydrates, fibre and sugars in its products.

The ‘GRAINSMART balance’ concept was developed by scientists from Nutrition Research Australia, National University of Singapore and Tufts University in Boston. It is a ratio of carbohydrates, fibres and sugars and is meant to help define how healthy a product is and does so by limiting the amount of sugar and increasing the amount of fibre in foods. The specific ratio is 10:1:2; that is, for every 10 grams of carbohydrates, there should one of fibre and no more than two of sugars.

“This new nutritional concept aims at facilitating a choice of higher quality carbohydrate products, helping consumers to increase their consumption of fibre-rich grain such as whole grains, while at the same time reducing their intake of added sugars,” said Kim-Anne Lê Bur, nutrition expert from Nestlé Research.

Any product whose ingredients meet this ratio can display a special logo on its packaging, indicating to the consumer that it is healthy. By limiting the amount of unhealthy ingredients it is hoped that consumers will be able to easily buy healthy foods with good carbohydrates that slowly release their sugars into the blood.

“We are very proud to pioneer this unique nutritional concept that supports products with higher nutritional quality,” said Mayank Trivedi, Head of Nestlé Strategic Business Unit Dairy. “We want to make sure consumers can trust products bearing the GRAINSMART balance logo as healthy options for themselves and their family because of their composition, which has been co-developed and validated by internationally recognised nutrition experts.”

The first products using the concept and its logo have already made their way to shelves in Europe. More should arrive this year, with the concept being applied by Nestlé for product development across its cereal portfolio. There is currently no word on whether or not it will be adopted by Nestlé in Australia.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Daniel Vincek