NUTRITIVE COMPOSITION AND NUTRITION CLAIMS ON PLANT-BASED BEVERAGES ON THE CROATIAN MARKET

Biljni napitci proizvode se procesom vodene ekstrakcije iz različitih sirovina (žitarice, mahunarke, orašasti plodovi). Često se formuliraju dodatkom aditiva, vitamina i minerala. Istraživanje je provedeno s ciljem ispitivanja zastupljenosti biljnih napitaka na hrvatskom tržištu, uspoređivanja sastava, prosječne energetske i hranjive vrijednosti te učestalosti isticanja prehrambenih i zdravstvenih tvrdnji na temelju informacija prikazanih na deklaracijama proizvoda. Podatci s deklaracija proizvoda prikupljeni su u maloprodajnim trgovačkim centrima u Bjelovaru, Koprivnici i jednoj mrežnoj trgovini. Prikupljeno je 125 proizvoda koji su podijeljeni u pet skupina s obzirom na vrstu napitka (od zobi, soje, riže, badema, kokosa). Udio glavnog biljnog sastojka kretao se od prosječnih 3,4% (napitci od badema) do 14,3% (napitci od riže). Utvrđene su razlike u sastavu između pojedinih vrsta napitaka. Stabilizatori i zgušnjivači te emulgatori najzastupljeniji su aditivi u biljnim napitcima. Napitci od riže imaju statistički značajno veću prosječnu energetsku vrijednost, udio ugljikohidrata i šećera, a sojini napitci statistički značajno više masti i bjelančevina od ostalih vrsta napitaka. Prosječna Nutri-Score vrijednost svih biljnih napitaka iznosi -0,02 (oznaka B). Prehrambene tvrdnje brojnije su i češće se navode na biljnim napitcima nego zdravstvene tvrdnje. Najučestalije su: „prirodno ne sadrži laktozu“, „bez dodanog šećera“ i “ prirodno ne sadrži gluten“.Plant-based drinks are produced by the water extraction from different raw materials (cereals, legumes, nuts). They are often formulated by the addition of additives, vitamins and minerals. The aim of this research was to examine the presence of the plant-based drinks on the Croatian market, to compare their composition, average energy and nutritional value and the frequency of nutrition and health claims on the product labels. The data from plant-based drinks labels was collected at retail stores in Bjelovar, Koprivnica and one online shop. In total, 125 products were collected and divided into five groups according to the type of beverage (from oats, soy, rice, almonds, coconut). The mass fraction of the main plant ingredient ranged from an average of 3.4% (in almond drinks) to 14.3% (in rice drinks). Differences in composition were found among different types of beverages. Stabilisers, thickeners and emulsifiers are the most frequently added additives in plant-based drinks. Rice drinks have a statistically significantly higher average energy value, carbohydrate and sugar content, and soy drinks have statistically significantly higher fat and protein content than other types of drinks. The average Nutri-Score value of all plant-based drinks is -0.02 (mark B). Nutrition claims are more numerous and more frequently highlighted on plant-based drinks than health claims. The most common nutrition claims are: “naturally lactose free”, “without added sugar” and “naturally does not contain gluten”