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Objective: The Health Star Rating (HSR) is a voluntary front‐of‐pack nutrition labelling system that rates products from ½ to 5 stars (five being healthiest). The Chilean Warning Label system displays warnings on foods high in sugar, saturated fat, sodium, or energy. We aimed to evaluate alignment between the systems. Methods: New Zealand packaged products (n=13,868) were classified according to the two systems. Alignment was assessed by cross‐checking the number of products meeting the criteria for warnings against star ratings. Products with no warnings but an HSR <2, or with >1 warning but an HSR of ≥3.5 were considered outliers. Results: Two‐thirds of products met the criteria for at least one warning. There was a significant positive relationship between the number of warnings and mean HSR: 0 warnings = HSR 3.77±.0166 (p<0.001), 1 warning = HSR 2.70±.0206 (p<0.001) and >1 warning = HSR 2.00±.0160 (p<0.001). The systems were non‐aligned for 1,117 products (8%). Conclusion: HSR and the Chilean Warning Label systems are broadly aligned. Non‐alignment is due to the Chilean system restricting warnings to foods containing added ingredients and HSR awarding points for positive components. Implications for public health: These results could be helpful in informing improvements to the HSR system.

The Health Star Rating (HSR) is a voluntary front‐of‐pack nutrition labelling system that rates products from ½ to 5 stars (five being healthiest). The Chilean Warning Label system displays warnings on foods high in sugar, saturated fat, sodium, or energy. We aimed to evaluate alignment between the systems.

ABSTRACTObjectiveThis paper reports on undergraduate health care students’ perception of societal vulnerability to disasters in the context of population aging. Forecast increases in extreme weather events are likely to have a particularly devastating effect on older members of the community.MethodsUndergraduate paramedicine and nursing students were surveyed using the Perceptions of Ageing and Disaster Vulnerability Scale (PADVS) to determine their views on the risks posed to older members of the community by disasters. Data analysis included a comparison of subscales relating to isolation, health system readiness, declining function, and community inclusiveness.ResultsStudents reported a moderate level of concern about disaster vulnerability. Students who had previously completed another university degree reported significantly higher levels of concern than those without a prior degree. Australian students reported lower concern about societal vulnerability compared to a previously reported cohort of Japanese students.ConclusionOur study suggests current education of future health care students does not promote adequate levels of awareness of the health-related challenges posed by disasters, particularly among older members of the community. Without addressing this gap in education, the risk of negative outcomes for both unprepared first responders and older members of the community is significant. (Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2019;13:449-455)

Background SaltSwitch is an innovative smartphone application (app) that enables shoppers to scan the barcode of a packaged food and receive an immediate, interpretive, traffic light nutrition label on the screen, along with suggestions for lower salt alternatives. Our aim was to determine the effectiveness of SaltSwitch to support people with cardiovascular disease to make lower salt food choices.Design Six-week, two-arm, parallel, randomised controlled trial in Auckland, New Zealand (2 weeks baseline and 4 weeks intervention).Methods Sixty-six adults with diagnosed cardiovascular disease (mean (SD) age 64 (7) years) were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the SaltSwitch smartphone app or control (usual care). The primary outcome was the salt content of household packaged food purchases during the 4-week intervention (g/MJ). Secondary outcomes were the saturated fat content (g/MJ), energy content (kJ/kg) and expenditure (NZ$) of household food purchases; systolic blood pressure (mmHg), urinary sodium (mg) and use and acceptability of the SaltSwitch app.Results Thirty-three participants with cardiovascular disease were allocated to the SaltSwitch intervention, and 33 to the control group. A significant reduction in mean household purchases of salt was observed (mean difference (95% confidence interval), −0.30 (−0.58 to −0.03) g/MJ), equating to a reduction of ∼0.7 g of salt per person per day during the 4-week intervention phase. There were no significant between-group differences in any secondary outcomes (all P> 0.05).Conclusions The SaltSwitch smartphone app is effective in supporting people with cardiovascular disease to make lower salt food purchases. A larger trial with longer follow-up is warranted to determine the effects on blood pressure.Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=365784&isReview=true ACTRN12614000206628

Objective:To assess the application of Multiple Traffic Light (MTL) nutrition labels and the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Nutrient Profiling Standard Calculator (NPSC) to foods and their agreement in classification of foods.

To assess the application of Multiple Traffic Light (MTL) nutrition labels and the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Nutrient Profiling Standard Calculator (NPSC) to foods and their agreement in classification of foods.

Objective:To identify key opportunities for reformulation of processed foods that could best decrease population sodium intakes in New Zealand (NZ).

To identify key opportunities for reformulation of processed foods that could best decrease population sodium intakes in New Zealand (NZ).