Označevanje živil kot orodje za spodbujanje izbire živil z ugodnejšo hranilno sestavo

Hafner, Edvina (author), Pravst, Igor (mentor)

Neuravnotežena prehrana je eden izmed ključnih preprečljivih dejavnikov tveganja za nenalezljive kronične bolezni. Označevanje živil lahko podpira zdravju ugodnejše prehranske izbire z zagotavljanjem informacij o hranilni sestavi. Čeprav je v EU določeno obvezno označevanje hranilne vrednosti, je to pogosto manj opazno, potrošniki pa imajo težave pri interpretaciji. Označevanje hranilne sestave na sprednji strani embalaže (angl. front-of-package nutrition labelling (FOPNL)) se je razvilo z namenom poenostavitve tovrstnih informacij in bolj učinkovitega usmerjanja potrošnikov k zdravju ugodnejšim izbiram. Cilj doktorske disertacije je bil celostno preučiti področje označevanja živil, s poudarkom na FOPNL shemah. V raziskavi preverjanja točnosti označevanja hranilne vrednosti smo ugotovili, da se je na embalaži navedena vsebnost sladkorja skladala z dejansko (laboratorijsko) analizirano vsebnostjo sladkorja v vseh 51 vzorcih sladkih pijač, kar dodatno utemeljuje uporabo označevanja živil za raziskovalne namene. Analiza predpakiranih živil na slovenskem tržišču je pokazala, da so bile FOPNL sheme prisotne le na 15 % živil, pri čemer so bile pogostejše na visoko predelanih živilih, ki so predstavljala 54,5 % ponudbe in so v večini primerov imela manj ugodno hranilno sestavo. Vrednotenje sheme Nutri-Score je pokazalo njeno visoko sposobnost razlikovanja med živili ter zmerno skladnost s profilom Svetovne zdravstvene organizacije v Evropi, kar se je s posodobljeno različico iz leta 2023 še izboljšalo in okrepilo možnosti za njeno uvedbo na ravni EU. Potrošniška raziskava v Sloveniji in Nemčiji je pokazala, da so interpretativne sheme (Nutri-Score, prehranski semafor) učinkovitejše pod časovnim pritiskom, vendar je pri tem potrebno upoštevati predhodno poznavanje in razumevanje shem. Skupni izsledki doktorske disertacije potrjujejo, da je FOPNL učinkovito javnozdravstveno orodje za spodbujanje zdravih izbir. Rezultati raziskav podpirajo uvedbo obveznega in enotnega FOPNL označevanja skupaj z izobraževalnimi kampanjami, ki lahko optimizirajo osnovni namen FOPNL: usmerjanje potrošnikov k zdravim prehranskim izbiram.

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: označevanje živil, izbira živil, označevanje hranilne sestave na sprednji strani embalaže, Nutri-Score, visoko predelana živila, predpakirana živila
• Work type: Doctoral dissertation
• Typology: 2.08 - Doctoral Dissertation
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publisher: [E. Hafner]
• Year: 2026
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-178804
• UDC: 641.1:613.2:366.1
• COBISS.SI-ID: 266758147
• Publication date in RUL: 30.01.2026

Secondary language

• Language: English
• Title: Food labelling as a tool to encourage the choice of foods with favourable nutritional composition

Abstract

An unbalanced diet is one of the key preventable risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases. Food labelling can support healthier dietary choices by providing nutritional information. Although the EU has established mandatory nutrition labelling, it has limited visibility, and consumers have difficulties in interpretation. Front-of-package nutrition labelling (FOPNL) was developed with the aim of simplifying this type of information and more effectively guiding consumers towards healthier choices. The aim of the doctoral dissertation was to comprehensively examine the field of food labelling, with an emphasis on FOPNL schemes. In a study verifying the accuracy of nutrition labelling, we found that the sugar content stated on the packaging was consistent with the actual (laboratory) analysed sugar content in all 51 sugar-sweetened beverage samples, which further rationalizes the use of food labelling for research purposes. An analysis of pre-packaged foods on the Slovenian market showed that FOPNL schemes were present on only 15% of foods, being more common on ultra-processed foods, which represented 54.5% of the offerings and, in most cases, had a less favourable nutritional composition. The evaluation of Nutri-Score showed its high ability to discriminate between products and moderate alignment with World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe nutrient profile model, which was further improved in the updated version from 2023, thereby strengthening the potential for its introduction at the EU level. Consumer research in Slovenia and Germany showed that interpretative schemes (Nutri-Score, Multiple Traffic Lights) are more effective under time pressure, but prior knowledge and understanding of the schemes must be taken into account. Overall, the results of the doctoral dissertation confirm that FOPNL is an effective public health tool for promoting healthier choices. The research findings support the introduction of mandatory and uniform FOPNL, along with educational campaigns, which can optimize the main purpose of FOPNL: guiding consumers towards healthier food choices.

• Keywords: food labelling, food choice, front-of-package nutrition labelling, Nutri-Score, ultra-processed foods, prepackaged foods