Gaeta F.: Ethics of “Healthy” Claims and Labels: From Enrichment to Sugar Manipulation?
Amazing what one learns in readying oneself for ESPGHAN podcasts!
Let me today, folks at home – or folks in office, or folks stuck in traffic, wherever you were when you said, "Right about now a podcast seems like a good idea" – start you on a journey of discovery with and about Dr Francesca Gaeta, head of paediatric gastroenterology in the Azienda Sanitaria Locale Avellino.
Avellino... Say what? Italy; Campania – that region of five provinces with Naples / Napoli at the centre of its seacoast; head inland 30 miles, or 45 kilometres, to where Avellino stands, capital of the province of the same name and heart of the region of Irpinia. Googling shows that it’s a lovely area, with a rich history: If it weren’t for volcanism – daily life is one earthquake after another, with Vesuvius growling to the west – we’d all want to move to Avellino, to experience the real Italy. A quirky fact: For those whom the USA series The Sopranos, a Mafia crime drama, riveted to their television screens a quarter of a century ago, the Soprano crime-family grandparents all emigrated from Avellino. We can infer that Dr Gaeta, like all Avellinese, is a powerhouse.
We’d be right to infer that: Dr Gaeta studied medicine in Salerno, a bit south of Avellino, where she also served her paediatrics residency. She then in Rome earned a master’s degree in clinical nutrition, followed by another master’s degree in childhood psychology, earned in Naples, all the while carrying out clinical duties in Avellino. And before entering medicine, she attended Avellino’s conservatory, completing a ten-year course in piano performance. Powerhouse indeed! ESPGHAN is lucky to count her as a member and a leader.
Today with Dr Gaeta we’ll consider three articles that deal with food marketing, food labelling, and their effects on issues of paediatric nutrition: From Alfraidi et al., “The impact of mandatory food-marketing regulations on purchase and exposure: A narrative review”; from Chamarthi et al., “The impact of ultra-processed foods on pediatric health”; and from Smith et al., “Experimental studies of front-of-package nutrient warning labels on sugar-sweetened beverages and ultra-processed foods: A scoping review”. (The ESPGHAN website has bibliographic details.)
Distinctions to bear in mind: A systematic review of a topic, such as reviews in the Cochrane compendium, collects claims and decides which can be trusted; a scoping review collects claims and presents them without rigorous assessment; and a narrative review shares opinions.
Under Dr Gaeta’s guidance, we’ll explore the interface among advertising, appetite, nutrition, and health. Bring your gun and camera!
Literature
Alfraidi A et al. The impact of mandatory food-marketing regulations on purchase and exposure: A narrative review.Children (Basel). 2023 Jul 25;10(8):1277. doi:10.3390/children10081277. PMID: 37628276. PMCID: PMC10453145.
Chamarthi VS et al. The impact of ultra-processed foods on pediatric health. Obes Pillars. 2025 Sep 9;16:100203. doi:10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100203. eCollection 2025 Dec. PMID: 41368198. PMCID: PMC12685501.
Smith LS et al. Experimental studies of front-of-package nutrient warning labels on sugar-sweetened beverages and ultra-processed foods: A scoping review. Nutrients. 2020 Feb 22;12(2):569. doi:10.3390/nu12020569. PMID: 32098363. PMCID: PMC7071470.
Dr Francesca Gaeta´s favourite song: Everybody Wants to Rule the World” – Tears for Fears
ESPGHAN favourite Songs can be found on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0YIHKjxITLEm9XNyHyypTo