Abstract
Beta glucan is a type of soluble dietary fibre found in oats and barley with known cholesterol-lowering benefits. Many countries globally have an approved beta glucan health claim related to lowering blood cholesterol, an important biomarker for cardiovascular disease. However, the use of these claims has not been examined. The aim of this study was to explore the range and variety of oat and barley products in the Australian and global market within a defined range of grain food and beverage categories and examine the frequency of beta glucan health claims. Australian data were collected via a recognised nutrition audit process from the four major Australian supermarkets in metropolitan Sydney (January 2018 and September 2020) and Mintel Global New Product Database was used for global markets where a claim is permitted. Categories included breakfast cereals, bread, savoury biscuits, grain-based muesli bars, flour, noodles/pasta and plant-based milk alternatives and information collected included ingredients lists and nutrition and health claims. Products from Australia (n = 2462) and globally (n = 44,894) were examined. In Australia, 37 products (1.5%) made use of the beta glucan claim (84% related to oat beta glucan and 16% related to barley beta glucan, specifically BARLEYmax®). Of products launched globally, 0.9% (n = 403) displayed beta glucan cholesterol-lowering claims. Despite the number of products potentially eligible to make beta glucan claims, their use in Australia and globally is limited. The value of dietary modification in cardiovascular disease treatment and disease progression deserves greater focus, and health claims are an opportunity to assist in communicating the role of food in the management of health and disease. Further assessment of consumer understanding of the available claims would be of value.
Highlights
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major health problem in Australia, affecting1.2 million adults [1], yet is largely preventable through the modification of risk factors such as physical inactivity, poor dietary habits and smoking, which together account for up to 90% of the risk of myocardial infarction [2]
Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), whole grain is defined as the intact grain or the dehulled, ground, milled, cracked or flaked grain where the constituents—endosperm, germ and bran—are present in such proportions that represent the typical ratio of those fractions occurring in the whole cereal, and includes wholemeal [6]
A quarter of all food and beverage products were made with whole grain oats and/or oat bran (Table 2), including 78.8% of grain-based muesli bars (n = 130), 68% of breakfast cereals (n = 369), 9.6% of breads (n = 74) and 6.9% of savoury biscuits (n = 25)
Summary
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major health problem in Australia, affecting. 1.2 million adults [1], yet is largely preventable through the modification of risk factors such as physical inactivity, poor dietary habits and smoking, which together account for up to 90% of the risk of myocardial infarction [2]. Hypercholesterolemia or elevated blood cholesterol is a key risk factor for the development of CVD, and in 2015 accounted for. It is reported that 1.5 million Australian adults had high cholesterol in 2017/18, a condition which often presents with no signs or symptoms. There is a significant opportunity for prevention and treatment of elevated cholesterol and reduction in CVD risk through diet therapy, and one such strategy is focused on adequate consumption of whole grains [4,5]. Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), whole grain is defined as the intact grain or the dehulled, ground, milled, cracked or flaked grain where the constituents—endosperm, germ and bran—are present in such proportions that represent the typical ratio of those fractions occurring in the whole cereal, and includes wholemeal [6].
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