QUESTION: My teenage son loves snacking on instant noodles. After reading about the health risks of ultra-processed foods, I was thinking about not buying them any more. But the ones we buy have a 3-star health rating on the front of the packet. How can an ultra-processed food achieve this?
ANSWER: The health star-rating system is designed to help consumers choose healthier options among packaged foods. However, while more stars indicate a more nutritious food, that is true only when comparing products within a food category. And just because a rating grades a product as "healthier" than its competitor's does not make the food a health-promoting choice.
Comparing a rating for instant noodles with one for breakfast cereal is therefore meaningless. Instead, you should use the rating to compare products within the same product category.
When comparing all the different types of instant noodles on the market, Maggi 2 Minute Noodles has a rating of 3 stars, whereas Fusian Mi Goreng Hot & Spicy Noodles has a lower rating of 2.5 stars, so the Maggi 2-Minute Noodles are healthier.
Denne historien er fra September 23-29 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.