Countries in Latin America are implementing nutritional warning labels on food packaging to combat rising health issues, setting an example for the United States to consider.
Cecilia Nowell reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- Latin American countries are pioneering front-of-package nutritional warning labels to inform consumers about high levels of sugar, salt, and fat in ultra-processed foods.
- Chile's implementation of black stop-sign labels led to a significant reduction in sugar and salt purchases and incentivized food companies to reformulate their products.
- Brazil's less conspicuous labeling system has faced criticism for its ineffectiveness compared to more prominent warning labels used in other countries.
Key quote:
“What they were trying to do was shift the blame on to individuals so that they’re not responsible for their products. It’s a classic move that tobacco, alcohol, they’ve all done."
— Eric Crosbie, School of Public Health at the University of Nevada, Reno
Why this matters:
Rising consumption of ultra-processed foods is linked to increased rates of non-communicable diseases. Effective labeling can help consumers make healthier choices and encourage food manufacturers to improve their products. Read more: Untangling the causes of obesity.
