Dairy and Fruit Listed as Main Ingredients Improve NRF8.3 Nutrient Density Scores of Children's Snacks

Background: The US Food and Drug Administration has modified its regulations on nutrient content claims by considering healthy dietary ingredients as well as nutrients. Objective: To assess the relation between dairy and fruit as main ingredients in children's snacks and the Nutrient Rich Food (NRF8.3) nutrient density score. Methods: Commonly consumed children's snacks in the United States, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom (n = 261) were assigned into USDA What We Eat in America (WWEI) categories. Nutrient composition data came from industry websites, open-source government databases (USDA Standard Reference SR28; CIQUAL), and back-of-pack food labels. Nutrient density was calculated using the Nutrient Rich Food Index NRF8.3. Snacks with dairy or fruit as the first listed ingredient (n = 115) were compared to those that listed neither (n = 146). Snacks that contained fruits-vegetables-nuts (FVN) (n = 88) were compared to those that did not (n = 173). Results: NRF8.3 scores were higher for snacks listing dairy or fruit as main ingredients. Dairy or fruit when listed as the first ingredient were associated with higher percent daily values of protein, fiber, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin D, lower saturated fat content and a 30-point increment in NRF8.3 scores. The presence of FVN was associated with a 22-point increment in NRF8.3 scores. Conclusion: The correspondence between back-of-pack food ingredients and the nutrient based NRF8.3 scores suggests that ingredients can also be used to communicate the nutritional value of foods to the consumer. Dairy and fruit, when listed as first ingredients, were an important component of the NRF8.3 nutrient density score.