Research from UMass Amherst shows only three types of fruit snacks are nutritious according to federal guidelines, highlighting the need for healthier snack options and reformulation to reduce added sugars and improve nutritional value. Credit: SciTechDaily.com
Of all the commercially available fruit snacks, defined by the USDA as “products made with fruit and fruit juices, which may or may not contain added sugar, artificial colors and flavors, and preservatives,” the UMass Amherst team found that dried fruit has the best overall nutritional profile – the highest nutrient density and fiber content, and the lowest added sugar.
They used the Nutrient Rich Foods Index, which calculates an overall nutrition quality score based on the nutrient profile of foods, to compare the healthfulness of fruit snacks. This model considers nutrients that are desirable – protein, dietary fiber, potassium, vitamin D, calcium, iron – as well as those that are recommended to be limited in the diet – saturated fat, cholesterol, added sugar, and sodium – to assess the overall nutrient quality of each fruit snack.
“With Alissa’s consumer insight and understanding of perceptions and sensory analysis, we can try to understand consumers’ acceptance and limitations and then design foods that would better cater to that, so that we can then bolster health and wellness platforms,” Kinchla says.
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