Nutrition Labelling
and the Elderly
Problems of the Elderly




Bodily function changes along with ageing.
Eating problems can result in an imbalanced
diet that may subsequently affect nutritional
status.
Increased risk of developing chronic diseases
such as diabetes, high blood pressure and
heart diseases.
Other common problems among the elderly,
e.g.


Osteoporosis
Constipation
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Osteoporosis



Osteoporosis is a metabolic disease of
bone.
It leads to a reduction in bone density,
and the affected bones become thinner
and are more likely to break (fracture).
It may result in pain and other
complications, including loss of
independence.
(Source of information: Department of Health)
3
Osteoporosis


As it is necessary to build strong and healthy bones
starting at an early age, everyone should maintain
balanced diet and perform regular exercise over a
lifetime to avoid osteoporosis later in life.
Balanced diet
 Eat calcium-rich foods
 Ensure adequate vitamin D intake
 Avoid salty (high sodium) food which affects
calcium absorption
(Source of information: Department of Health)
4
Constipation



If the faeces are very hard or if there is
great difficulty in passing it out, then it is
constipation.
Peristalsis of the intestine in the elderly
is usually weakened, hence they are
more prone to constipation.
Inadequate water or lack of fibre in food
leads to hard faeces.
(Source of information: Department of Health)
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Constipation
Eating tips
 Take a high fibre diet
 Drink adequate fluid like water, soup and
fruit juice.
 Exercise everyday can help increase
peristaltic movement of the bowel; be
relaxed.
(Source of information: Department of Health)
6
Nutrition Labelling and the Elderly

The use of nutrition labelling can help
the elderly and their carers choose
suitable foods
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Read and Use Nutrition Labels
Examples of Recommended
Format of Nutrition Label
Tabular format
1
7
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Examples of Recommended
Format of Nutrition Label
Linear format
(for small packages with total surface area of less than 200 cm2)
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Required Nutrients on Nutrition Labels

1+7 (energy plus seven nutrients specified
for labelling) –
i.e. energy, protein, total fat, saturated fat,
trans fat, carbohydrates, sugars and
sodium.

Nutrient(s) involved in nutrition claim(s)
(when the nutrition claim is on any type of fat,
the amount of cholesterol must be declared as
well).

For other nutrients, declaration is voluntary.
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Making Use of Nutrition Label
Consumers can:

Compare the nutritional content among
different foods for a healthier choice, e.g. to
choose food that is lower in fat, sodium (or
salt) and sugars.

Understand the nutritional content of food
and estimate their contribution to the overall
diet.

To meet individual’s dietary needs.
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Three Simple Steps to Read
Nutrition Label
Three Simple Steps to Read
Nutrition Label
Step 1
 Take note of the reference amount of food
being used in the nutrition label
Step 2
 Read the energy and nutrient content together
with the reference amount
Step 3
 Refer to the percentage Nutrient Reference
Value (%NRV), if available, to see if the food
contains a lot or a little of energy or a nutrient in
the food
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Step 1: Take note of the reference amount of
food being used in the nutrition label

Expressed as
per 100 g (or
per 100 mL)
of food
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Step 1: Take note of the reference amount of
food being used in the nutrition label

Expressed as per serving (the serving size (in g or
mL) and the no. of servings must be specified on
the package)
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Step 1: Take note of the reference amount of
food being used in the nutrition label

Expressed as per package (if the package
contains only a single serving )
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Step 2: Read the energy and nutrient content
together with the reference amount
A)
Use nutrition label to compare
between products
B)
Use nutrition label to calculate the
amount of energy and nutrients you
get from food
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Step 2A:
Use nutrition label to
compare between products

Products with nutritional content expresssed in
the SAME reference amount
(Partial) Nutrition label of Brand A biscuit
(Partial) Nutrition label of Brand C biscuit
If reference amount is the SAME, you CAN COMPARE
between the products DIRECTLY
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Step 2A:
Use nutrition label to
compare between products

Products with nutritional content expresssed in
DIFFERENT reference amounts
(Partial) Nutrition label of Brand A biscuit
(Partial) Nutrition label of Brand D biscuit
If reference amounts are DIFFERENT, you CANNOT
COMPARE between the products DIRECTLY
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Step 2A: Use nutrition label to
compare between products

Products with nutritional content expresssed in
DIFFERENT reference amounts
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Step 2B: Use nutrition label to calculate the amount of
energy and nutrients you get from food

The more you eat, the more you get

If you eat 1 serving of biscuit


Get 8 g of fat, 3.5 g of saturated fat
If you eat 2 servings of biscuit

Get 16 g of fat, 7 g of saturated fat
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Step 2B: Use nutrition label to calculate the amount of
energy and nutrients you get from food

Energy and nutrient content expressed as per 100 g/mL
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Step 3: Refer to the percentage Nutrient Reference
Value (%NRV), if available, to see if the food contains
a lot or a little of energy or a nutrient in the food

%NRV is usually on a scale from 0% to 100%.
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Step 3: Refer to the percentage Nutrient Reference
Value (%NRV), if available, to see if the food contains
a lot or a little of energy or a nutrient in the food


For nutrients that needed to limit their intake

E.g. total fat, saturated fat, sodium and sugars

Look for foods that have lower %NRV
Get enough of nutrients that are good for health

E.g. dietary fibre

Look for foods that have higher %NRV
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Use Nutrition Label to
Choose Prepackaged Food
Suitable for the Elderly
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Principles of Healthy Eating


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Choose a variety of food and eat cereals as
the largest portion of food in every meal.
Eat a lot of vegetables and fruit.
Reduce the consumption of foodstuffs with
high salt, fat and sugar content as well as
those which are preserved.
A daily fluid intake of 6 to 8 glasses
(including clear soup, fruit juice and tea).
Take meals regularly and in adequate
amounts.
(Source of information: Department of Health)
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Nutrition Labelling is a Useful Tool
for Practising Healthy Eating

Nutrition label and nutrition claim can help the
elderly choose suitable prepackaged food in
accordance with healthy eating principles, as
well as their own physical conditions and
dietary modification, e.g.



Choose food lower in fat, sodium (or salt) and
sugars (“3 Low”)
Choose food higher in calcium
Choose food higher in dietary fibre
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Choose Prepackaged Food
Suitable for the Elderly
1.
Use nutrition claim as a quick screening
tool; and
2.
Take three simple steps to read nutrition
label
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Use Nutrition Claim to Choose
Suitable Prepackaged Food
The words below are considered as synonyms for nutrition
claims, they may help the elderly choose food lower in
fat, sodium and sugars:
Claim
Meaning of Claim
Free; No; Zero; Without;
Does not contain
Insignificant amount of a particular
nutrient found in the food
Very low; Extremely low;
Super low
This category of claim applies to
sodium only, meaning a very small
amount of sodium found in the food
Low; Little; Low source; Few;
Contains a small amount of
A small amount of nutrient found in
the food
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Use Nutrition Claim to Choose
Suitable Prepackaged Food
The words below are considered as synonyms for nutrition
claims, they may help the elderly choose food higher in
calcium and dietary fibre:
Claim
Meaning of Claim
Source; Contains; With;
Provides; Has
A significant amount of a
particular nutrient found in the
food.
High; Good source; High A very significant amount of a
source; Rich in; Plenty of particular nutrient found in the
food.
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Use Nutrition Label to Choose
Suitable Prepackaged Food
Three Simple Steps to Read Nutrition Label
Step 1
 Take note of the reference amount of food being
used in the nutrition label
Step 2
 Read and compare the nutritional content
Step 3
 Refer to the percentage Nutrient Reference Value
(%NRV) (If available)
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How to Choose Prepackaged Food
Suitable for the Elderly – Example 1
Nutrition Information營養資料
Nutrition Information營養資料
Servings Per Package/每包裝所含食用分量數目: 1
Serving Size/食用分量: 236mL/236毫升
Servings Per Package/每包裝所含食用分量數目: 1
Serving Size/食用分量: 236mL/236毫升
Per Package
每包裝
Energy/ 能量
156kcal/千卡
Per Package
每包裝
Energy/ 能量
84kcal/千卡
Protein/ 蛋白質
7.8g/克
Protein/ 蛋白質
8.5g/克
Total fat/ 總脂肪
9.0g/克
Total fat/ 總脂肪
0.2g/克
- Saturated fat/ 飽和脂肪
5.9g/克
- Saturated fat/ 飽和脂肪
0.2g/克
- Trans fat/ 反式脂肪
0.2g/克
- Trans fat/ 反式脂肪
Carbohydrates/ 碳水化合物
11g/克
12g/克
- Sugars/ 糖
11g/克
Carbohydrates/ 碳水化合
物
Sodium/ 鈉
97mg/毫克
- Sugars/ 糖
12g/克
Calcium/ 鈣
114mg/毫克
Sodium/ 鈉
104mg/毫克
Calcium/ 鈣
156mg/毫克
Milk Beverage A
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0g/克
Milk Beverage B
How to Choose Prepackaged Food
Suitable for the Elderly – Example 2
Corn Flakes C
Corn Flakes D
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How to Choose Prepackaged Food
Suitable for the Elderly – Example 3
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Information
Servings Per Package: 5
Servings Per Package: 5
Serving Size : 3 pieces (50 g)
Per Serving
%Chinese NRV
Per Serving
Serving Size : 3 pieces (50 g)
Per Serving
%Chinese NRV
Per Serving
Energy
170kcal
9%
Energy
271kcal
14%
Protein
2.9g
5%
Total fat
13.8g
23%
Protein
4.7g
8%
8.4g
42%
Total fat
1.1g
2%
- Saturated fat
0.2g
1%
- Saturated fat
- Trans fat
0g
Carbohydrates
33.7g
- Sugars
21.7g
Dietary fibre
Sodium
11%
- Trans fat
Carbohydrates
0g
35.3g
12%
1.5g
6%
- Sugars
1.6g
80mg
4%
Dietary fibre
5.8g
23%
90mg
5%
Biscuit E
Sodium
36
Biscuit F
END