Application of a New Carbohydrate Food Quality Scoring System: An Expert Panel Report

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Dietary Assessment
• Public Health

Background:

• Carbohydrate foods are a primary energy source in the US diet, but many are low in fiber and whole grains, and high in added sugar, sodium, and saturated fat.
• Existing dietary guidance lacks specific metrics to differentiate carbohydrate food quality.
• Higher-quality carbohydrate foods are crucial for affordable healthy diets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and validate the Carbohydrate Food Quality Scoring System (CFQS) models for assessing carbohydrate food quality.
• To demonstrate the alignment of CFQS models with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
• To show how CFQS models can inform future dietary guidelines and health messages.

Main Methods:

• Description of two CFQS models: CFQS-4 for non-grain carbohydrate-rich foods and CFQS-5 for grain foods.
• Alignment assessment of CFQS models with key healthy messages from the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Main Results:

• The CFQS models provide a unified approach to classifying carbohydrate-rich foods based on quality.
• CFQS models effectively reconcile diverse descriptors (e.g., refined vs. whole, starchy vs. non-starchy).
• The scoring system supports messages promoting nutrient-dense, fiber-rich, low-added-sugar foods.

Conclusions:

• The CFQS models offer a valuable tool for policymakers, industry, health professionals, and consumers.
• CFQS can guide policy and programs toward improved carbohydrate food choices.
• These metrics facilitate more informative messaging aligned with nutritional and health benefits.