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A new Australian food selection guide: future challenges and opportunities.

Article Excerpt
In 2006, the new Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs) for Australia and New Zealand were released. (1) This was the first review of the recommended dietary intakes (RDIs) for 15 years and will have a number of significant implications for dietitians and health professionals. The NRVs represent significant advances in nutrient recommendations in Australia, with a range of values now provided, an increase in the number of nutrients covered and important changes to the RDIs for a number of nutrients.

One of the most significant changes was the inclusion of a separate set of recommended values for key nutrients aimed at prevention of chronic disease. This represents a fundamental shift in the role of nutrient recommendations from the prevention of nutrient deficiency to the development of optimal health. These recommendations, known as suggested dietary targets (SDTs), were made for vitamin A, carotenes, vitamin C, vitamin E, folate, sodium and potassium, dietary fibre and long-chain n-3 fats and are based on the evidence primarily surrounding prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer. In addition, acceptable macronutrient distribution ranges (AMDRs) are provided based on evidence surrounding cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, diabetes and risk of obesity and dietary modelling aimed at meeting the estimated average requirement or 83% of the adequate intake where appropriate. (1)

There are obvious implications of the new NRVs such as the need for a review of the core food groups (CFGs) (2) and the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating (AGHE), (3) as the CFG recommendations were based on the old RDI targets and these, along with the previous dietary guidelines, informed the development of the AGHE. (4) Surprisingly, no coordinated or integrated plan of action seems to have been put in place for these reviews. The article by Shrapnel and Baghurst focuses on the provision of fats and fat-soluble nutrients by the existing CFGs in relation to the new NRVs. (5) Specifically, it evaluates the contribution of...

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