The GI Symbol Program

‘making healthy choices easy choices’

Healthy Ageing APAC Summit

Singapore June 12th 2018

© 2014 GI Ltd - © ® &™ University of Sydney Australia other countries. All rights reserved

Agenda

• Glycemic Index Foundation

• What is GI?

• The GI Symbol Program & Labelling

Glycemic Index Foundation

A not-for-profit health promotion charity established in 2001 by University of Sydney, Diabetes Australia (NSW ACT)

World leader in putting GI research into practice

Mission to assist food suppliers in providing, and consumers in selecting, nutritionally healthy foods using the Glycemic Index

Committed to an improvement in public health by raising the awareness and understanding of the health benefits of low GI diets – from a holistic and chronic disease perspective

All funds raised invested in community awareness and new research

3

What is the Glycemic Index?

The Glycemic Index or GI is a measure of the effect of a

carbohydrate food on blood glucose levels in healthy people

over a two hour period

GI is expressed on a scale of 1-100, with glucose having a GI

value of 100

Carbohydrates with a low GI (55 or less) are digested and

released slowly. They raise blood glucose levels and insulin

levels more gradually and provide sustained energy

Carbohydrates with a high GI (70 and above) break down

quickly during digestion and cause blood glucose levels to rise

higher for longer

High GI v Low GI

Backed by over 40 years of scientific evidence

A healthy low GI diet has proven benefits for groups across the whole

community and across life stages

Type 2 diabetes and

gestational diabetes

Diabetes management

Cardiovascular disease

Obesity

Certain cancers: breast

and bowel

Reduced disease risk Improved health & wellbeing

Weight loss &

management

Sustained energy

Exercise endurance

Keeps you fuller for longer

Improve cholesterol levels

Improve pregnancy

outcomes

A number of supporting organisations help promote GI to their communities

Glycemic Index incorporated into global

diabetes guidelines

How can we make it easy to put the science of GI into practice?

Diabetes organisations around the globe have incorporated GI into their healthy eating guidelines for the prevention and management of diabetes

Pre-diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes can be

prevented

A Low GI diet has been scientifically proven to help lower/manage weight• Cochrane Report 2007 – more people lost weight on

Low GI diet than others• DiOGenes study 2010 determined that a moderately

high protein* low GI diet was the best for longer-term weight management

The primary goal of PREVIEW is to identify the most efficient lifestyle pattern for the prevention of type 2 diabetes in a population pre-diabetic overweight or obese individuals. The hypothesis is that a higher protein low GI diet will be more effective than the conventional healthy diet and that shorter periods of more intense exercise will be better than longer times of less intense exercise

Results due at the end of 2018. GIF currently in negotiation to commercialise their partnership and the studies findings.

Glycemic Index Symbol and labelling

Australian experience

© 2017 Glycemic Index Foundation- © ® &™ University of Sydney Australia other countries. All rights reserved

Australia pioneered GI

-Professor Jennie Brand-MillerScientific Proof – 1980’s

Communicating the Message‘Swap It don’t Stop It’

The GI Foundation President

Setting the Standard

The Revolution

The GI Symbol ‘For Purpose’

The GI Symbol Program

Raise awareness & understanding of GI

Help consumers

chooseInvest in

researchhealthy Low GI

products

1

2

3

Symbol program to identify products

Develop new Low GI products

Global collaborative research

Local market research

Social Media

Public Relations

Healthcare Professionals / Key

Influencer Strategy

A public health initiative based on over 35

years of scientific research

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• Products must be tested by approved laboratory using the International Standard (ISO 26642:2010) procedure.

• Products must contain 10g of Carbohydrate, or ≥ 80% carbohydrate AND be traditionally served in multiple units of small serve sizes

• Products must meet strict

nutrition criteria:

• Energy

• Total carbohydrate

• Total Fat & Sat Fat

• Sodium

• Dietary Fibre &

• Calcium

The GI Symbol Program

• Breakfast cereals

Carbohydrate:

45 g per serve, or less

Fat:

≤ 10 g/100g, provided that saturated fat is ≤ 3.3 g/100 g

(or up to 15g/100g if the source of saturated fat is grains, seeds

or nuts).

Dietary fibre:

3 g/100 g or more

Sodium:

400 mg /100 g or less

Example nutrient criteria

Food Labelling & GI

Glycaemic Index (a) the food meets the NPSC1, unless the food is a food

standardised by Part 2.9 of the [Food Standards]Code; and

(b) the claim or the nutrition information panel under

Standard 1.2.8 includes the numerical value of the

glycaemic index of the food.

Low The numerical value of the glycaemic index of the food is 55

or below.

Medium The numerical value of the glycaemic index of the food is at

least 56 and not exceeding 69.

High The numerical value of the glycaemic index of the food is 70

or above.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) – introduced in 2011allows food products to show the numeric value of the GI or GL, provided thenumber has been determined by a recognised scientific method. Foods may be labelled as ‘low-GI’ if the numerical value of the GI of the food is 55 or below.

GI Symbol supports Government Front of Pack

Labelling

Health Claims breakthrough ‘clutter’

Supporting On Pack Health Benefit

Claims(Std 1.2.7 GLHC)

Sustained Energy: (examples)

Low GI for longer lasting energy

Low GI for sustained energy

Steady Energy

Physical Performance: (examples)

Low GI (insert food) to fuel active bodies

Low GI (insert food) to help outlast the morning

Low GI foods provide energy to help you perform at your best.

Low GI to keep you going

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Appetite Regulation / Satiety

(examples)

Helps you stay fuller for longer

Low GI helps keep you satisfied

Helps you feel satisfied

Self-Substantiated Health ClaimsCompiled evidence to support on-pack health claims for

GI & Sustained Energy GI & Satiety GI & Endurance

Gl Health Benefit Claims

20

Substantiated health claim‘fuller for longer’

Substantiated health claim‘sustained energy’

GI Symbol authority and trust

High consumer awareness of‘Low GI’ supports permissibleand better energy

21

A range of iconic brands across most

carbohydrate-containing food categories

Look for products with the GI Symbol

Consumer engagement

Website gisymbol.com 120,000 users & 200,000 page views per month.

Facebook: Over 25,000 and growing, consumer platform, high engagement rate.

Follow us on Twitter: Healthcare Professionals & interested consumersover 2,500 followers @GiFoundation

GI News monthly consumer e-newsletter, reach over 95,000 subscribers with 24% open rate.

24

Social media toolkitWe developed an information toolkit to spread our messages through key channels – our own, our partners and key influencers

25

A positive response from key opinion leaders which resulted in a number of healthcare professionals sharing with their audience and clients

Direct distribution every year of 35,000 of our Make Healthy Choices Easier flier calling consumers to action, and highlighting our program partners and products

Direct to Consumers & Healthcare Professionals

Consumer brochures

Healthcare Professional brochures

Low GI Diet series: over 3 million published worldwide

26

Australian consumers response

Awareness of GI & the GI Symbol

Awareness of Glycemic Index GI in 2001 was <28%

Awareness of the Glycemic Index (GI) has been above

75% since 2005 with interest in GI still high

Over 84% of Australians have an interest in finding out more

about how GI of foods can improve their overall health.

Higher amongst people with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D)

Highest awareness of GI Symbol amongst:

People with Type 2 diabetes (43%)

Females

25-34 year age group, young families

28Lonergan Research 2016: Random Sample of Main Grocery Buyers 18+ years; 1235 respondents (Type 2 Diabetes n=273)

Symbols cut through the on pack clutter

Once consumers learn more about low GI and the GI Symbol

over 65% are likely to look out for it when shopping.

They are more likely to use the logo when they know GI

Symbol products satisfy nutritional criteria and have been

tested by an accredited laboratory.

Consumers are more likely to choose GI Symbol products if

linked to a health benefit.

Providing longer lasting energy, keeping fuller for longer

and overall health are the main benefits associated with low

GI and the GI Symbol.

29Lonergan Research:2016 Random Sample of Main Grocery Buyers 18+ years; 1235 respondents (Type 2 Diabetes n=273)

National nutrition surveysAustralian Bureau of Statistics 1995 and 2011/12

n ~14,000, 1 x 24 h recall

61% response rate

n = ~12,000, 1 x 24 h recall

77% response rate

Changes in dietary GI and GL in Australian adults 1995 – 2011/21

• Dietary GI and GL decreased by 5% and 12% respectively (p < 0.001)1

• The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in1,2 :

added sugars (primarily sucrose in Australia),

honey and syrups,

sweetened beverages, juices and

potatoes.

• And an increase in1,2 :

wholegrain cereals

cereal-based dishes

beans, peas and pulses.1. Kusandi et al. AJCN, 2017; 2. Ridoutt et al. Foods, 2016

Year(s) GI GL

1995 56.5 153.3

2011/2 53.9 135.4

Glycemic load from Australian foods: 1995-2011/21

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Other alcoholic beverages

Pastries

Batter-based product

Cake-type dessert

Breakfast cereals (ready to eat)

Sweetened beverages

Potatoes

Fancy breads

Pastas

Cereal based dishes

Bread and bread rolls (plain)

Flours, cereal grains and starches

%GL

Fo

od

Gro

up

1. Kusandi et al. AJCN, 2017

Australian Case Studies

Case Study: Carisma™ Potatoes

GI = 55; average potato GI = 77

20% less carbohydrate

100% natural

Variety, growing conditions and preparation

Boiled, mashed and fried (low fat)

Can be added to foods as an ingredient

Sales have grown 20% year on year since launch

(Nov 2010) in a declining Australian potato market

Translating to international

markets

Translating to international

markets

36

GI Symbol – Global Registration

• Australia

• New Zealand

• USA

• Canada

• EU

• Singapore

• Malaysia

• Japan

• India

• Taiwan (pending)

• China (pending)

37

2001• Consumer awareness of Glycemic Index 28%

2002

• The GI Foundation established

• The GI Symbol launched

2005• Consumer Awareness of GI Symbol 72%

2007

• GI included in the Australian Standards

• Consumer awareness of Glycemic Index 82%

2011 - 2013

• GI labelling gazetted in the Foods Standards Code

• Consumer awareness of Glycemic Index 77%

2018

• Consumer awareness of Glycemic Index 76%

• International Collaborations and Global GI Symbol Registration

Take home messages

• We need a global food and nutrition strategy to address

the diabesity pandemic

• Decreasing the average dietary glycemic index and

glycemic load can be part of that strategy

• It is possible to identify and promote healthy low GI foods

to the general population

• The GI Foundation and its GI Symbol has worked down

under, and it’s ready to be rolled out globally…