Cariogenicity of selected processed machine-vended and health food snacks
Martin, J.B.; Berry, C.W.
Journal of the American Dietetic Association 75(2): 159-161
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-8223 PMID: 458083 Document Number: 153079
Informed health professionals have a responsibility to teach people to select snacks that provide nutrients, and to avoid those which promote dental caries, which is one of the most prevalent diseases in the nation. Health food store items tended to be as cariogenic as machine-vended snack foods. Nutritious snack foods can therefore be selected with discretion from vending machines as well as from health food and grocery stores. A chart ranks brand name food items on a scale of 1 to 10 according to their cariogenicity. Dietitians should be aware of the nutrient composition and marketed form of processed foods, and the frequency with which they are eaten, to provide sound nutrition education.