Introduction
This quiz set focuses on WHO global standards and guidance on nutrition and related policies, tailored for M.Pharm students studying Regulatory Aspects of Food & Nutraceuticals (MRA204T). It covers international recommendations, policy instruments, and regulatory approaches used to improve population nutrition—such as sugar, salt and trans fat limits; breastfeeding and infant feeding policies; food fortification; labelling; advertising restrictions; and collaboration with Codex/FAO. Each question tests applied knowledge relevant to regulatory design, implementation and compliance monitoring. These MCQs will help students prepare for exams by linking WHO guidance to practical regulatory scenarios in food and nutraceutical oversight.
Q1. According to WHO guidance, what is the recommended limit for free sugars intake for adults and children?
- Reduce free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake, with further conditional recommendation to below 5%
- Limit free sugars to less than 20% of total energy intake
- Allow unlimited free sugars for adults but restrict for children under 5 years
- Reduce free sugars to less than 1% of total energy intake
Correct Answer: Reduce free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake, with further conditional recommendation to below 5%
Q2. What daily salt intake does WHO recommend for adults to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease?
- Less than 5 grams of salt per day
- Less than 10 grams of salt per day
- No more than 20 grams of salt per day
- Salt intake is not addressed by WHO
Correct Answer: Less than 5 grams of salt per day
Q3. What is WHO’s recommendation on exclusive breastfeeding duration for infants?
- Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life
- Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 3 months only
- Exclusive breastfeeding until 12 months with no complementary foods
- No recommendation; breastfeeding is optional
Correct Answer: Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life
Q4. The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, supported by WHO, primarily aims to:
- Restrict marketing of breast-milk substitutes to protect breastfeeding
- Promote formula manufacturers’ right to advertise freely
- Standardize formula composition worldwide
- Ban all sales of breast-milk substitutes
Correct Answer: Restrict marketing of breast-milk substitutes to protect breastfeeding
Q5. What is the objective of WHO’s REPLACE action package?
- Eliminate industrially produced trans fats from the global food supply
- Replace salt with sugar in processed foods
- Promote replacement of breast milk with formula
- Replace natural fats with synthetic fats in all foods
Correct Answer: Eliminate industrially produced trans fats from the global food supply
Q6. WHO recommends daily iron and folic acid supplementation during pregnancy. What is the typical recommended dose?
- 30–60 mg elemental iron plus 400 µg folic acid daily
- 5 mg elemental iron plus 50 µg folic acid daily
- 100–200 mg elemental iron with no folic acid
- No supplementation is recommended during pregnancy
Correct Answer: 30–60 mg elemental iron plus 400 µg folic acid daily
Q7. For areas with high prevalence of vitamin A deficiency, WHO recommends which approach for young children?
- Periodic high-dose vitamin A supplementation for children aged 6–59 months
- Daily low-dose vitamin A for adults only
- Banning all vitamin A supplementation programs
- Vitamin A supplementation only for adolescents
Correct Answer: Periodic high-dose vitamin A supplementation for children aged 6–59 months
Q8. What is the primary role of the Codex Alimentarius in relation to WHO guidance on nutrition?
- Set international food standards to protect consumer health and ensure fair practices in trade
- Mandate national dietary guidelines for every country
- Regulate pharmaceutical drug approvals
- Create marketing strategies for the food industry
Correct Answer: Set international food standards to protect consumer health and ensure fair practices in trade
Q9. How are nutrient profiling models recommended by WHO used in nutrition policy?
- To classify foods for policies such as restrictions on marketing to children
- To determine individual daily calorie needs for athletes only
- To replace food composition tables entirely
- To ban all packaged foods from the market
Correct Answer: To classify foods for policies such as restrictions on marketing to children
Q10. Which policy approach does WHO recommend to reduce sodium levels in processed foods?
- Set progressive reformulation targets for sodium in processed foods and engage industry
- Encourage consumers to add less salt at the table only
- Ban processed foods entirely
- Require manufacturers to double the salt content
Correct Answer: Set progressive reformulation targets for sodium in processed foods and engage industry
Q11. What is the ambitious target of the WHO Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (2013–2020) regarding premature NCD mortality by 2025?
- 25% relative reduction in premature mortality from NCDs
- No change in NCD mortality is targeted
- 50% increase in premature mortality is acceptable
- Complete elimination of all NCDs by 2025
Correct Answer: 25% relative reduction in premature mortality from NCDs
Q12. The WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health focuses primarily on which objective?
- Promoting healthy diets and physical activity to reduce chronic disease risk
- Eliminating all fats and sugars from the food supply
- Promoting sedentary behavior as a health strategy
- Recommending one universal diet for every individual
Correct Answer: Promoting healthy diets and physical activity to reduce chronic disease risk
Q13. What type of front-of-pack (FOP) labelling does WHO support to help consumers make healthier choices?
- Interpretive FOP labelling (e.g., traffic light or summary indicators) that is easy to understand
- Only detailed numerical labelling with no interpretive element
- FOP labelling that hides key nutrient information
- FOP labels that promote the most caloric products
Correct Answer: Interpretive FOP labelling (e.g., traffic light or summary indicators) that is easy to understand
Q14. One of the Global Nutrition Targets set by WHO for 2025 is about exclusive breastfeeding. What is the target level?
- Increase the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months to at least 50%
- Reduce exclusive breastfeeding prevalence to below 10%
- Ensure exclusive breastfeeding for 24 months for all infants
- No global target is set for exclusive breastfeeding
Correct Answer: Increase the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months to at least 50%
Q15. What does WHO recommend regarding marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children?
- Implement policies to restrict the marketing of foods high in fat, sugar and salt to children
- Permit unrestricted marketing of all foods to children
- Only allow marketing of sugary drinks to children under 5
- Rely solely on voluntary advertisements with no regulation
Correct Answer: Implement policies to restrict the marketing of foods high in fat, sugar and salt to children
Q16. In food safety and contaminant standards, WHO typically collaborates with which organization to develop international standards?
- FAO through the Codex Alimentarius Commission
- World Trade Organization only, without FAO
- Local food vendors without international agencies
- UNESCO for food safety standards
Correct Answer: FAO through the Codex Alimentarius Commission
Q17. Which fiscal policy does WHO endorse to reduce consumption of unhealthy products such as sugar-sweetened beverages?
- Implement taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages to reduce consumption
- Subsidize sugar-sweetened beverages to increase sales
- Ban all taxation on beverages
- Provide tax breaks exclusively to manufacturers of sugary drinks
Correct Answer: Implement taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages to reduce consumption
Q18. According to WHO complementary feeding guidance, when should complementary foods be introduced?
- Around 6 months of age while continuing breastfeeding up to 2 years or beyond
- At 1 month of age and stop breastfeeding immediately
- Only after the child reaches 3 years of age
- Complementary foods are unnecessary if formula is provided
Correct Answer: Around 6 months of age while continuing breastfeeding up to 2 years or beyond
Q19. What is WHO’s position on population-level food fortification to address micronutrient deficiencies?
- Support targeted or population-level fortification (e.g., universal salt iodization, flour fortification) where deficiencies exist
- Oppose all food fortification programs universally
- Recommend only supplementation and never fortification
- Fortification should be left entirely to market forces with no guidance
Correct Answer: Support targeted or population-level fortification (e.g., universal salt iodization, flour fortification) where deficiencies exist
Q20. Regarding nutrition and health claims on foods, what does WHO recommend for regulatory authorities?
- Authorize claims only when they are scientifically substantiated and not misleading to consumers
- Allow any claims as long as a product is profitable
- Ban all nutrition and health claims regardless of evidence
- Permit claims only for imported foods
Correct Answer: Authorize claims only when they are scientifically substantiated and not misleading to consumers
