Dietitians' and nutritionists' knowledge and views on aspects of health claims regulation in the UK: Do we inadvertently shoot the messenger?

IF 2.7 4区 医学 Q3 NUTRITION & DIETETICS Nutrition Bulletin Pub Date : 2023-06-01 DOI:10.1111/nbu.12616
Carrie Ruxton, Margaret Ashwell
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Abstract

Article 12(c) of the Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation (NHCR) prohibits authorised health claims in consumer-facing commercial communications which make reference to the recommendations of individual doctors or health professionals. However, this has been controversial amongst dietitians and nutritionists who work in commercial settings. Given the lack of empirical data, a survey was conducted amongst UK-based nutrition professionals to assess their knowledge of, and attitudes to, Article 12(c). The findings revealed confusion about the scope of the regulation and how it applies to working practices, with a considerable proportion of respondents being unable to recognise examples of commercial communications or health claims, indicating a need for additional training. There was also a broad interpretation of what nutrition professionals could, and could not, say about a hypothetical food product. This paper explores current guidance in Great Britain and debates the proportionality and fairness of Article 12(c), which, at present, does not regulate authorised health claims made by influencers or celebrities in commercial communications to consumers. It could be argued that consumers are better protected by the articulation of health claims by nutrition professionals who are guided by codes of practice rather than by unqualified, unregulated individuals. Hence, it is essential to level the regulatory playing field either by revising the NHCR to amend Article 12(c) or by updating the guidance to apply an interpretation of the Article's intention which enables a broader role for nutrition professionals in commercial communications. Such action would also be consistent with the UK's better regulation agenda to ensure evidence-based, proportionate regulation for industry.

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营养师和营养学家对英国健康声明监管方面的知识和观点:我们是否无意中击中了信使?
《营养和健康声明条例》(NHCR)第12(c)条禁止在面向消费者的商业通信中引用个别医生或卫生专业人员的建议进行授权的健康声明。然而,这在在商业环境中工作的营养师和营养学家中一直存在争议。鉴于缺乏经验数据,在英国的营养专业人员中进行了一项调查,以评估他们对第12(c)条的知识和态度。调查结果显示,人们对条例的范围及其如何适用于工作做法感到困惑,相当比例的答复者无法识别商业通信或健康声明的例子,这表明需要进行额外培训。对于一种假设的食品,营养专家能说什么,不能说什么,也有一个宽泛的解释。本文探讨了英国目前的指导方针,并讨论了第12(c)条的比例性和公平性,该条款目前并未规范有影响力的人或名人在与消费者的商业沟通中所作的授权健康声明。可以说,由受行为准则指导的营养专业人员而不是由不合格、不受管制的个人来阐明健康声明,能更好地保护消费者。因此,必须通过修订NHCR来修改第12(c)条,或通过更新指南来适用对该条意图的解释,从而使营养专业人员在商业传播中发挥更广泛的作用,从而使监管竞争环境变得公平。此类行动也将与英国更好的监管议程相一致,以确保对行业进行循证、相称的监管。
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来源期刊
Nutrition Bulletin
Nutrition Bulletin NUTRITION & DIETETICS-
CiteScore
4.50
自引率
12.10%
发文量
58
期刊介绍: The Nutrition Bulletin provides accessible reviews at the cutting edge of research. Read by researchers and nutritionists working in universities and research institutes; public health nutritionists, dieticians and other health professionals; nutritionists, technologists and others in the food industry; those engaged in higher education including students; and journalists with an interest in nutrition.
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