Nutrition Detectives
What does NIP stand for?
Answer: Nutrition Information Panel.
How are ingredients generally ordered on a food label?
From the greatest amount to the smallest amount by weight.
What is one reason food manufacturers use preservatives?
To extend shelf life and reduce spoilage.
What are food miles?
The distance food travels from where it is produced to where it is consumed.
According to the lesson, above how much sugar per 100 g is a food considered high in sugar?
More than 15 g.
When comparing two packaged foods, what measurement should you use to make a fair comparison?
Answer: Per 100 g.
Name two common food allergens.
Any two of peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, soy, eggs, milk or wheat.
What does the term “hyper-palatable” mean?
Food designed to be especially appealing to eat, often through combinations of salt, sugar and fat.
Name one environmental problem caused by excessive food packaging.
Landfill waste, difficult-to-recycle materials or potential microplastic pollution.
According to the lesson, how much dietary fibre should you look for per 100 g?
More than 3 g.
According to the lesson, what sodium level per 100 g is considered high?
More than 400 mg.
What is the difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance?
An allergy involves the immune system, while an intolerance usually involves difficulty digesting or reacting to a substance.
Give two reasons why consumers choose ultra-processed convenience meals.
They save time, require little preparation, are easy to reheat or may seem affordable.
What is a cold chain in food distribution?
A temperature-controlled system that keeps food chilled or frozen during storage and transport.
A food contains 6 g of saturated fat per 100 g. Is this considered high according to the lesson?
Yes, because it contains more than 5 g per 100 g.
A snack contains 18 g of sugar per 100 g. Is this considered high according to the lesson?
Yes, because it contains more than 15 g of sugar per 100 g.
Why might gelatine be a concern for someone following a vegan diet?
Gelatine is derived from animals, so it is not suitable for a vegan diet.
Why might manufacturers use inexpensive ingredients such as starches, oils and sugars?
To reduce production costs and potentially increase profit margins.
Why can transporting frozen food over long distances increase environmental impacts?
Transport produces emissions, and keeping food frozen requires energy.
Why is comparing food per serving sometimes misleading?
Serving sizes can differ between products, making direct comparisons unfair. Comparing per 100 g standardises the amounts.
Food A contains 450 mg of sodium per 100 g, while Food B contains 110 mg. Which food has less sodium, and what is the difference?
Food B has less sodium by 340 mg per 100 g.
A food label lists milk and preservative 220. What two dietary concerns might these ingredients raise?
Milk may be a concern for someone with a milk allergy or lactose intolerance, while preservative 220 may affect someone sensitive to sulphites.
Explain how ultra-processed meals can benefit manufacturers and consumers at the same time.
Manufacturers can benefit from longer shelf life and lower production costs, while consumers benefit from convenience, quick preparation and easy availability.
A frozen meal uses a plastic tray, plastic film and a cardboard sleeve. Explain two possible environmental problems.
The different packaging materials may be difficult to recycle, and discarded packaging can increase landfill waste and pollution.
A frozen meal is cheap and convenient but contains high sodium and lots of difficult-to-recycle packaging. Identify one nutritional concern and one environmental concern.
The high sodium content may be a nutritional concern. The packaging may create waste and be difficult to recycle.