A new study reveals that foods marketed with protein claims are often misleading to consumers. Most of these foods are high in sodium, fat, and sugar, which pose potential health risks.
Scientists at the Miguel Hernández University in Spain conducted a study to describe the nutrient content and healthfulness of foods with protein claims. Let’s take a closer look at these studies in the article below!
Protein-rich food consumption trends and misconceptions
Protein-rich foods and supplements containing protein and amino acids are becoming increasingly popular around the world, as they are considered healthy foods.
According to a recent survey, the number of new foods and drinks in Europe with protein-related claims has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 26% between 2017 and 2022. In Australia, this growth is 12%.
The trend of consuming protein-rich foods is becoming more and more popular globally.
A 2022 global study found that about 17% of consumers are willing to buy protein-rich foods, despite the high price of these products. Many people believe that protein-rich foods are not only nutritious but also help build muscle, improve health and prolong life.
However, scientists warn that this perception can lead to misunderstandings. Some studies have shown that protein-rich foods can also contain unhealthy ingredients such as sugar, salt, saturated fat and even be high in calories.
In a study in Spain, scientists analyzed data from the BADALI food database to assess the popularity and nutritional quality of protein-rich products currently on the market.
Protein content analysis of processed foods
The study analyzed 4,325 processed foods across 12 different food groups, of which approximately 13% were found to have protein-related claims.
The prevalence of protein claims varied across food groups. The highest percentage was found in plant-based meat substitutes (68.2%), followed by nutrition bars (35.3%), and yogurt or dairy-based dessert alternatives (21.3%). Notably, no protein-related claims were found in cookies and fruit drinks.
Approximately 60.4% of foods analyzed contained enhanced protein ingredients.
Approximately 60.4% of the foods analyzed contained fortified protein. Of these, plant-based nutrition bars and meat substitutes had the highest rates of protein fortification, at nearly 90%. In contrast, milk and yogurt substitutes or dairy-based desserts had low rates of fortification, at 7.9% and 3.3%, respectively.
Plant-based proteins were added more frequently (41.7%) than animal proteins (25.9%). Of these, gluten was the most commonly used plant protein, followed by milk and soy proteins.
Nutrient content of foods with protein claims
Foods with protein claims, especially fortified products, tended to have significantly higher protein content. Specifically, milk substitutes and nutrition bars with protein claims contained four times more protein than products without such claims. For plant-based meat analogues, protein content was more than twice as high in the declared group as in the unclaimed group.
In addition to protein, there were significant differences in the nutritional composition of carbohydrates, sugars, total fat, and saturated fat between products with and without protein claims.
Protein-declared bars contained 82% less carbohydrates and sugars, respectively, than those without claims, but 48% more saturated fat. Meanwhile, milk and milk drinks in the protein-declared group contained less total fat and saturated fat, while yogurt and fermented milk had lower carbohydrate and sugar levels.
Milk alternatives with protein claims contained less sugar and carbohydrates but had higher total fat levels than those without claims. Similarly, plant-based meat analogues with protein claims had significantly lower carbohydrate levels than those without claims.
Potential risks to the nutritional quality of foods with protein claims
The study applied the nutrient profile model developed by the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization to assess the nutritional quality of foods with protein claims.
The results showed that 90.8% of foods with protein claims were classified as “unhealthy”, with more than 50% containing high levels of fat and sodium. This is worrying because excessive sodium consumption is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease.
Check nutrition labels carefully instead of relying on protein claims.
Notably, 1 in 4 products contained high levels of free sugars and saturated fat, while 1 in 5 products contained artificial sweeteners. Compared to foods without protein claims, the group of foods with protein claims had a 17% higher rate of being “unhealthy”. However, foods with protein claims contained less free sugars and saturated fat than those without claims.
The analysis found that around 1 in 7 foods on the Spanish market had protein claims, with 60% of these products being fortified with protein mainly from plant sources. However, the nutritional quality of this group of foods was significantly poorer than foods without protein claims.
This highlights the importance of consumers checking nutrition labels carefully rather than relying on protein claims, which can lead to misleading health claims. Foods that claim protein, although perceived as healthy, often contain high amounts of sodium, fat and sweeteners, which reduce their nutritional value. Regular consumption of these products is associated with health risks such as obesity and cardiovascular disease.
The researchers stress that consumers are often unaware of these risks and instead rely on protein claims on packaging. Therefore, they recommend that consumers carefully read nutrition labels and ingredient lists to make truly healthy choices.
