Food Labeling and Chronic Diseases: Consumers Perception in Brazil

Authors: IDEC Brasil

2014 – The determination of overweight, obesity and other chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is associated with the lifestyle of modern populations. Given the finding that NCDs are the main causes of mortality and morbidity in the Brazilian population and that food regulation is one of the strategies identified as a tool to fight these diseases, it is necessary to verify the knowledge and behavior of consumers in relation to food labeling and also to evaluate the possible differences between those who suffer from NCDs and those who are free from this health problem. The general objective of the research was to evaluate the consumer’s knowledge, behavior, perception and preference in relation to general and nutritional food labeling, according to the presence of non-communicable chronic diseases.

http://www.idec.org.br/pdf/rotulagem-de-alimentos-e-doencas-cronicas.pdf

Preliminary Regulatory Impact Analysis Report on Nutrition Labeling

Author: ANVISA – Agencia Nacional de Vigilancia Sanitária / Gerencia Geral de Alimentos

May 2018 – Brazil was one of the first countries to adopt mandatory nutrition labeling as part of the public health strategy to promote adequate and healthy food and to combat obesity, through regulatory actions conducted by ANVISA.

https://pesquisa.anvisa.gov.br/upload/surveys/981335/files/An%C3%A1lise%20de%20Impacto%20Regulat%C3%B3rio%20sobre%20Rotulagem%20Nutricional.pdf

Superior Efficacy of Front-of-Package Warning Labels in Jamaica

Author: PanAmerican Health Organization ( PAHO ) / World Health Organization ( WHO )

March 2021 – This fact-sheet presents the results of the first study to take place in the Caribbean to examine the best performing front-of-package labeling (FOPL). It was conducted by the Ministry of Health and Wellness of Jamaica, the University of Technology, Jamaica, and the Pan American Health Organization, and contributes to the evidence that has been accumulated in the Region of the Americas on the topic. Consumers showed the octagonal warning labels had the highest chances of correctly identifying when products were excessive in sugars, sodium, or saturated fats, of correctly identifying the least harmful option, and of choosing the least harmful or none of the products more often.

https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/53328

Front-of-package labeling as a policy tool for the prevention of noncommunicable diseases in the Americas

Authors: Pan America Health Organization

September 2020 – High blood pressure, high fasting blood sugar levels, and overweight/obesity are the top three risk factors for mortality in the Americas. Unhealthy eating is closely linked to these top three risk factors in the Americas. The regulatory objective of a FOPL system should aim at allowing consumers to correctly, quickly, and easily identify products that contain excessive amount of sugars, total fats, saturated fats, trans fats, and sodium.

https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/52740

Building momentum: lessons on implementing a robust front-of-pack food label

Authors: WCRFInternational (World Cancer Research Fund International)

2019 – Provides advice to policymakers about designing and implementing a front-of-pack food label in the face of various challenges caused by lack of political will and industry interference. It seeks to equip policymakers with overarching guidance on how to design a robust front-of-pack food label that will help overcome issues of lack of political as well as defend their label against legal and non-legal challenges, including common tactics used by industry. Case studies are included throughout the report from countries who are in the process of, or who have already implemented a front-of-pack label.

https://www.wcrf.org/sites/default/files/PPA-Building-Momentum-2-WEB.pdf

Responses to the Chilean law of food labeling and advertising: exploring knowledge, perceptions and behaviors of mothers of young children

Authors: Teresa Correa; Camila Fierro; Marcela Reyes; Francesca R. Dillman Carpentier; Lindsey Smith Taillie; Camila Corvalan

2019 –

In line with calls for action from international health organizations, Chile implemented in June 2016 a set of regulations to tackle the obesity epidemic. The new regulation includes the mandatory use of front-of-package warning labels on packaged foods/beverages high in energy, sugars, saturated fats and sodium. Additionally, such foods cannot be sold nor offered in daycare/schools and cannot be promoted to children under 14yo. The law is targeted to children; thus, this study examined mothers’ understanding, perceptions, and behaviors associated with the regulation one year after its implementation, using a qualitative approach.

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-019-0781-x

Structural responses to the obesity and non‐communicable diseases epidemic: Update on the Chilean law of food labelling and advertising

Authors: C. Corvalán; M. Reyes; M. L. Garmendia; R. Uauy

October 2018 – Chile approved the law of food labelling and advertising in 2012; this law aims to address the obesity epidemic, particularly in children. The implementation details were published in 2015, and the law was implemented finally in 2016. Regulated foods were defined based on a specially developed nutrient profiling, which considered natural foods as gold standard. For liquid foods, amounts of energy, sugars, saturated fats, and sodium in 100 mL of cow’s milk were used as cut‐offs. For solid foods, values within the 90th ‐ 99th percentile range for energy and critical nutrients were selected as cut‐off within a list of natural foods. A stop sign stating “High in ” was chosen as warning label for packaged regulated foods. Regulated foods were also forbidden to be sold or offered for free at kiosks, cafeterias, and feeding programme at schools and nurseries. Besides, regulated foods cannot be promoted to children under 14 years. A staggered implementation of the regulation was decided, with nutrients cut‐offs becoming increasingly stricter over a 3‐year period. These regulatory efforts are in the right direction but will have to be sustained and complemented with other actions to achieve their ultimate impact of halting the obesity epidemic.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/obr.12802

Preliminary Report on Regulatory Impact Analysis on Nutrition Labeling

Authors: ANVISA – Agencia Nacional de Vigilancia Sanitária / Gerencia Geral de Alimentos

May 2018 – Brazil was one of the first countries to adopt mandatory nutrition labeling as part of the public health strategy to promote adequate and healthy food and to combat overweight, through regulatory actions conducted by Anvisa.

https://pesquisa.anvisa.gov.br/upload/surveys/981335/files/An%C3%A1lise%20de%20Impacto%20Regulat%C3%B3rio%20sobre%20Rotulagem%20Nutricional.pdf

Law 30021 for the promotion of healthy eating for children and adolescents. 60 days to approve technical parameters through regulations

Author: Jaime Delgado

August 2017 – Presentation on what Law 30021 proposes for the promotion of healthy eating in children and adolescents with various graphic examples of nutritional labeling in Peru and other South American countries.

https://interamericanheart.org/Repository/1.20ley30021alimsaluddelgadoperu.pdf

Food Labeling and Chronic Diseases: Consumers Perception in Brazil

Authors: IDEC Brazil

2014 – The determination of overweight, obesity and other chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is associated with the lifestyle of modern populations. In view of the fact that NCDs are the main causes of mortality and morbidity in the Brazilian population and that food regulation is one of the strategies pointed out as a tool to face these diseases, it is necessary to verify the knowledge and behavior of consumers in relation to food labeling and also to evaluate the possible differences between those who have contact with NCDs and those who are free from this health problem. The general objective of the research was to evaluate the knowledge, behavior, perception and preference of the consumer in relation to general and nutritional food labeling, according to the presence of chronic non-communicable diseases.

http://www.idec.org.br/pdf/rotulagem-de-alimentos-e-doencas-cronicas.pdf