Nutritional value of cereal-based gluten-free products and comparison to that of gluten containing counterparts in the Greek market

Eirini Bathrellou ¹, Meropi D Kontogianni ¹

⁰Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences and Education, Harokopio University of Athens, Kallithea, Greece.

International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition +

|

September 10, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Gluten-free products (GFPs) generally offer a comparable nutritional profile to their gluten-containing (GC) counterparts. However, a significant portion of GFPs still exhibit an unhealthy nutritional profile, warranting attention.

Area Of Science

Food Science
Nutritional Science
Public Health Nutrition

Background

The nutritional value of gluten-free products (GFPs) is a subject of ongoing debate.
Assessing the nutritional quality of GFPs is crucial for consumer guidance and public health.

Purpose Of The Study

To evaluate the nutritional value of cereal-based GFPs available in the Greek market.
To compare the nutritional profiles of GFPs with their gluten-containing (GC) counterparts.

Main Methods

Data collected from nutritional labels and ingredient lists of 913 products (351 GFPs, 562 GCPs) from a major Greek supermarket.
Products were categorized into 12 types, including breads, pasta, cereals, and cookies.
Nutrient profiles and nutritional claims were compared between GFPs and GCPs across categories.

Main Results

Overall, GFPs demonstrated a comparable nutritional profile to GC products, with minor exceptions.
A quarter of the assessed GFPs presented an unhealthy nutritional profile.
Nutritional claims and nutrient profiles showed mixed results across different food categories.

Conclusions

The study supports findings that GFPs do not inherently possess an inferior nutritional profile compared to their GC counterparts.
Despite overall comparability, a notable percentage of GFPs require improvement to meet healthier nutritional standards.
Further research and clearer labeling are needed to guide consumers towards healthier gluten-free choices.

Keywords:

Greece Nutrient content coeliac disease gluten-free nutritional claims