Diets: Difference between revisions

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This project aims to see if it's possible for OpenFoodFacts to support diets in the most generic way.
This project aims to see if it's possible for Open Food Facts to support diets in the most generic way.
Initial exploration by [[User:Aleene]], being refactored/augmented by [[User:Teolemon]]


[[Category:Diets]]
=== Exploring how Open Food Facts can support any dietary requirement===
=== Exploring how Open Food Facts can support any dietary requirement===
====Introduction====
==== Introduction ====
The idea for diets started with the question how vegetarian products are supported by Open Food Facts. It is clear however that these idea's can be extended to any dietary requirement. Other examples of diets are Hallal or Kosher, but also Organic can be seen as a diet.
The idea for diets started with the question how vegetarian products are supported by Open Food Facts. It is clear however that these idea's can be extended to any dietary requirement. Other examples of diets are Halal or Kosher, but also Organic can be seen as a diet.


====Should Open Food Facts support diets?====
==== Should Open Food Facts support diets? ====
Open Food Facts relies on the information on the labels. Support for diets seems to imply that other information should be folded into Open Food Facts. Which would make diets a derivative project.<br />
* Open Food Facts relies on the information on the labels. Support for diets seems to imply that other information should be folded into Open Food Facts. Which would make diets a derivative project.<br />
However it might be that generic support for diets is so closely tied to Open Food Facts, that it should be integrated. Or, if Open Food Facts wants to support dietary requirement queries, it might have consequences for implementation of Open Food Facts (think taxonomy).</ br>
* However it might be that generic support for diets is so closely tied to Open Food Facts, that it should be integrated. Or, if Open Food Facts wants to support dietary requirement queries, it might have consequences for implementation of Open Food Facts (think taxonomy).</ br>
At the moment Open Food Facts already includes some derived applications, such as comparing and finding Palm-tree based products. So supporting diets is not farfetched.
* At the moment Open Food Facts already includes some derived applications, such as comparing and finding Palm-tree based products. So supporting diets is not farfetched.
====Diet definition====
==== Diet definition ====
What is a diet exactly? [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diet_(nutrition) Wikipedia] defines it as
* What is a diet exactly? [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diet_(nutrition) Wikipedia] defines it as
<nowiki>In nutrition, diet is the sum of food consumed by a person or other organism.</nowiki>
* <nowiki>In nutrition, diet is the sum of food consumed by a person or other organism.</nowiki>
This does not help us much. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diets Wikipedia entry] on diets shows more than 50 different diets (I stopped counting). There are many different reasons and approaches, which are not relevant here. As a working defition I will use:
* This does not help us much. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diets Wikipedia entry] on diets shows more than 50 different diets (I stopped counting). There are many different reasons and approaches, which are not relevant here. As a working definition I will use:
<nowiki>A Open Food Fact diet is a subselection of products in the Open Food Fact database.</nowiki>
* <nowiki>A Open Food Facts diet is a subselection of products in the Open Food Fact database.</nowiki>
This implies that a person who follows a certain diet is only willing to eat specific products.
* This implies that a person who follows a certain diet is only willing to eat specific products.
==== Compound Diets ====
==== Compound Diets ====
It is possible that a person adheres to multiple diets. For example vegetariansim + non-gmo + organic.
It is possible that a person adheres to multiple diets. For example vegetariansim + non-gmo + organic.
====Diet Listings====
==== Diet Listings ====
Wikipedia has a very large [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diets listing of Diets]. I am not sure whether they are all relevant for this discussion.
Wikipedia has a very large [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diets listing of Diets]. I am not sure whether they are all relevant for this discussion.
Examples of diets are (I just copied some): [[Buddhist cuisine|Buddhist diet]], [[Edenic diet]], [[Hinduism|Hindu]] and [[Jainism|Jain]] diets, [[Islamic dietary laws]], [[I-tal]], [[Kosher foods|Kosher diet]], [[Word of Wisdom]], [[Fruitarianism|Fruitarian diet]] [[Lacto vegetarianism]], [[Lacto-ovo vegetarianism]], [[Veganism|Vegan diet]], [[Flexitarianism|Flexitarian diet]], [[Kangatarian]], [[Pescetarianism|Pescetarian diet]], [[Vegetarianism|Plant-based diet]], etc.<br />
Examples of diets are (I just copied some): [[Buddhist cuisine|Buddhist diet]], [[Edenic diet]], [[Hinduism|Hindu]] and [[Jainism|Jain]] diets, [[Islamic dietary laws]], [[I-tal]], [[Kosher foods|Kosher diet]], [[Word of Wisdom]], [[Fruitarianism|Fruitarian diet]] [[Lacto vegetarianism]], [[Lacto-ovo vegetarianism]], [[Veganism|Vegan diet]], [[Flexitarianism|Flexitarian diet]], [[Kangatarian]], [[Pescetarianism|Pescetarian diet]], [[Vegetarianism|Plant-based diet]], etc.<br />
We have to analyse these diets to see how they are defined and whether they are suitable for support by Open Food Facts.
We have to analyse these diets to see how they are defined and whether they are suitable for support by Open Food Facts.


===Which diets to support?===
=== Which diets to support? ===
We need to set some rules to define which diets Open Food Facts could support:
We need to set some rules to define which diets Open Food Facts could support:
* Open Diet - the definition of a diet and its corresponding rules should be in the public domain. (I guess this will exclude diets created by diet guru's).
* Open Diet - the definition of a diet and its corresponding rules should be in the public domain. (I guess this will exclude diets created by diet guru's).
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* Label - there should be a label corresponding to a diet, such the vegetarian society.
* Label - there should be a label corresponding to a diet, such the vegetarian society.
* Package - ideally information whether a product is suited for a particular diet should be on the package of a product. However the advantage of Open Food Facts is that this would no longer necessary.
* Package - ideally information whether a product is suited for a particular diet should be on the package of a product. However the advantage of Open Food Facts is that this would no longer necessary.
===Diet Rules===
=== Diet Rules ===
====Vegetarianism====
In order to obtain diet rules one must look at various diets to see how they are defined. After looking at [[these diets]] some conclusions can be drawn. Products are to be excluded based on:
Rules are defined in [http://www.v-label.info The European Vegetarian Label]:
* Ingredients created by a specific process - for instance GMO or organic;
* Ovo-vegetarian - contains egg
* Specific ingredient - for instance the coloring agent Cochinelle, derived from crushing beetles;
* Lacto-Vegetarian - contains milk
* Ingredient groups - for instance all fats that required the killing of an animal;
* Ovo-Lacto-Vegetarian - contains egg and/or milk
* Products created by specific processes;
* Vegan - no animal product
* Product groups created by specific processes.
Strangely these rules do not exclude, but include. However the basic, unspoken rule, in these labels is that nothing should come from dead animals. Interestingly they note that these rules are part of Swiss law. The European Vegetarian has defined [[detailed rules]] to be included. Interestingly these rules also specify animal welfare (no battery eggs) and non-gmo. Also it talks about products used during the product creating, which are not to be found on the productlabel as ingredient.<br />
 
There is also a labelling system in India (green/red)<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetarianism</ref>.
==== Raw veganism ====
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raw_veganism Raw veganism] follows veganism and [[raw foodism]] It is a compound diet.
==== Raw foodism ====
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raw_foodism Raw foodism] implies that food cooked at a temperature above 48 °C should be excluded. This rule is not based on the ingredients used, but on how the product is made. Thus, this can not be extracted from the productlabel.
===Already supported Diets ===
===Already supported Diets ===
Open Food Facts already support some support for diets.
Open Food Facts already support some support for diets.
====Allergens====
==== Vegan ====
====Labels====
==== Vegetarian ====
==== Palm oil ====
==== Allergens ====
==== Labels ====
 
=== Potentially impactful diets ===
==== Pregnant woman ====
* https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/foods-to-avoid/
* [[Pregnancy & Babies]]
 
==== Pork detection (to help Halal, Kosher apps) ====
* [[Halal]]
==== More ====
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diets


===Implementation thoughts===
=== Implementation thoughts ===
Although it is much to early to talk about implementation, I gather some thoughts here.
Although it is much to early to talk about implementation, I gather some thoughts here.
====Product level restrictions====
====Product level restrictions====
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==== Diet logo's ====
==== Diet logo's ====
Each supported diet requires a logo, similar to the one used for Palm fat. Maybe inspiration can be taken from the official corresponding logo's.
Each supported diet requires a logo, similar to the one used for Palm fat. Maybe inspiration can be taken from the official corresponding logo's.
===References===
=== References ===
* [https://www.zediet.fr/ ZeDiet] - une méthode simple, efficace et durable pour améliorer ou préserver votre forme et votre santé en vous aidant à faire de meilleurs choix alimentaires;
* [https://www.zediet.fr/ ZeDiet] - une méthode simple, efficace et durable pour améliorer ou préserver votre forme et votre santé en vous aidant à faire de meilleurs choix alimentaires;
* [http://www.nongmoproject.org Non GMO project] - working together to ensure the sustained availability of non-GMO food & products;
* [https://www.nongmoproject.org Non GMO project] - working together to ensure the sustained availability of non-GMO food & products;
* [http://www.euroveg.eu European Vegetarian Union]
* [https://www.euroveg.eu European Vegetarian Union]
* [https://github.com/openfoodfacts/openfoodfacts-server/issues/9092 Add better support for specific diets]
== Get in touch ==
{{Box
| 1    =  Slack channel
| 2    =  [https://openfoodfacts.slack.com/messages/C4AR9QGDQ/ #diets]
}}

Latest revision as of 14:45, 16 August 2024

This project aims to see if it's possible for Open Food Facts to support diets in the most generic way. Initial exploration by User:Aleene, being refactored/augmented by User:Teolemon

Exploring how Open Food Facts can support any dietary requirement

Introduction

The idea for diets started with the question how vegetarian products are supported by Open Food Facts. It is clear however that these idea's can be extended to any dietary requirement. Other examples of diets are Halal or Kosher, but also Organic can be seen as a diet.

Should Open Food Facts support diets?

  • Open Food Facts relies on the information on the labels. Support for diets seems to imply that other information should be folded into Open Food Facts. Which would make diets a derivative project.
  • However it might be that generic support for diets is so closely tied to Open Food Facts, that it should be integrated. Or, if Open Food Facts wants to support dietary requirement queries, it might have consequences for implementation of Open Food Facts (think taxonomy).</ br>
  • At the moment Open Food Facts already includes some derived applications, such as comparing and finding Palm-tree based products. So supporting diets is not farfetched.

Diet definition

  • What is a diet exactly? Wikipedia defines it as
  • In nutrition, diet is the sum of food consumed by a person or other organism.
  • This does not help us much. The Wikipedia entry on diets shows more than 50 different diets (I stopped counting). There are many different reasons and approaches, which are not relevant here. As a working definition I will use:
  • A Open Food Facts diet is a subselection of products in the Open Food Fact database.
  • This implies that a person who follows a certain diet is only willing to eat specific products.

Compound Diets

It is possible that a person adheres to multiple diets. For example vegetariansim + non-gmo + organic.

Diet Listings

Wikipedia has a very large listing of Diets. I am not sure whether they are all relevant for this discussion. Examples of diets are (I just copied some): Buddhist diet, Edenic diet, Hindu and Jain diets, Islamic dietary laws, I-tal, Kosher diet, Word of Wisdom, Fruitarian diet Lacto vegetarianism, Lacto-ovo vegetarianism, Vegan diet, Flexitarian diet, Kangatarian, Pescetarian diet, Plant-based diet, etc.
We have to analyse these diets to see how they are defined and whether they are suitable for support by Open Food Facts.

Which diets to support?

We need to set some rules to define which diets Open Food Facts could support:

  • Open Diet - the definition of a diet and its corresponding rules should be in the public domain. (I guess this will exclude diets created by diet guru's).
  • Rule set - the ruleset by which products are excluded should be clear.
  • Diet Society - there should be a society that supports a diet. Such a society should certify products. Ideally their listing are available as open data.
  • Label - there should be a label corresponding to a diet, such the vegetarian society.
  • Package - ideally information whether a product is suited for a particular diet should be on the package of a product. However the advantage of Open Food Facts is that this would no longer necessary.

Diet Rules

In order to obtain diet rules one must look at various diets to see how they are defined. After looking at these diets some conclusions can be drawn. Products are to be excluded based on:

  • Ingredients created by a specific process - for instance GMO or organic;
  • Specific ingredient - for instance the coloring agent Cochinelle, derived from crushing beetles;
  • Ingredient groups - for instance all fats that required the killing of an animal;
  • Products created by specific processes;
  • Product groups created by specific processes.

Already supported Diets

Open Food Facts already support some support for diets.

Vegan

Vegetarian

Palm oil

Allergens

Labels

Potentially impactful diets

Pregnant woman

Pork detection (to help Halal, Kosher apps)

More

Implementation thoughts

Although it is much to early to talk about implementation, I gather some thoughts here.

Product level restrictions

The ruleset defined by the European Vegetarian Society implies restriction on the ingredient level: no ingredients that come from dead animals. Could this be defined as a branch in the taxonomy? Thus a branch for ingredients from dead animals, a branch for products from eggs (chickens, geese, etc), a branch for milk-based products (cow, camel, etc) and bees, and ....

Ingredient Taxonomy

The basis of a diet is to exclude products with specific ingredients from a search. This can be done by giving each ingredient a diet-attribute. It might be more simple to create an ingredient taxonomy based on these attributes and thus be able to exclude entire branches of ingredients. Question is how such a taxonomy can support multiple diets.

Product support levels

On the official dutch association site for vegetarians, they use a five-level scheme to indicate whether a product is suitable for vegetarians. such a scheme can be adapted to any diet.

  • light green - the product has a lable by an official certification organisation, which certifies that the product is suitable for the diet;
  • dark green - the product contains no ingredients that seem unsuitable for the diet;
  • yellow - the product contains additives that might not be suitable for the diet;
  • orange - the product contains additives not suitable for the diet;
  • red - the product clearly contains ingredients not suitable for the diet;

Not all diets will support all levels.

Translation Issues

A file is needed with all possible / supported diets.

Diet logo's

Each supported diet requires a logo, similar to the one used for Palm fat. Maybe inspiration can be taken from the official corresponding logo's.

References

Get in touch

Slack channel