Month: April 2022

The Americas – Argentina: Nutritional seals and warnings system developed

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The Nutritional Stamps and Warnings System (Provision 2673/2022) is a tool created within the Federal Information System for Food Control Management (SIFeGA in Spanish) for the consultation and management of the procedures established by Law No. 27,642 and its Regulatory Decree No. 151/2022, within the framework of the powers conferred to ANMAT through the National Food Institute. This system is integrated by the following services:

  • Stamp Calculator: it is publicly accessible. It is used to perform the official calculation of the profile of critical nutrients, and presents the seals of warnings and cautionary legends that food products covered by the Law must include.
  • Affidavit: allows companies to submit the affidavit of critical nutrients, according to Article 14° and in compliance with the schedule of Article 19° of Decree No. 151/2022.
  • Extension manager: allows companies to submit requests for extensions and exceptions, according to article 20 of Law 27.642 and Decree 151/2022.
  • Search engine: allows online consultation of the public information declared on food and non-alcoholic beverages, consolidated from the sworn statements of the regulated entities.

For further information, you can access the original source in Spanish

The Americas – Argentina: ANMAT bans the sale of food called salt based on crickets

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The National Administration of Medicines, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT in Spanish), through Provision 2675/2022, banned the sale of a condiment used in Mexican cuisine throughout the country. It is a salt made from crickets of the brand Chapulines (crickets) whose label contains the following information: “Net weight 60 g, expiration 10 JUN 2022, Elaborated by Chapulines, City of Buenos Aires – CP 1425, Argentine Industry”.
The decision was taken after verifying that the product lacked sanitary registrations, resulting in a falsely labeled product and, consequently, illegal.
In Argentina, insects are not considered by the Argentine Food Code. But a group of researchers from Conicet and the Food Safety Network published last year a report on the nutritional profile of crickets for human consumption, which once approved by the National Food Institute (INAL in Spanish) would open the way for the development of the edible insects sector in the country.

For further information, you can access the original source in Spanish

Articles – Brazil: A comparative assessment of two different front-of-package nutrition label designs: A randomized experiment in Brazil

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This study compares the effectiveness of different front-of-package label designs in a Brazilian sample (n = 1384). Eligible adults were randomized to one of two study arms and viewed images of snacks with either a triangular warning label (TL) or a rectangular ‘high in’ label with a magnifying glass (ML). They responded to a series of questions that captured label usefulness, understanding, and purchase intentions. Compared to participants in the ML arm, those in the TL arm agreed that the TL communicated important information [Mean (SD) – 5.47 (0.07) vs 4.49 (0.08), p-value <0.001], was a useful tool [Mean (SD) – 6.12 (0.06) vs 5.75 (0.07), p-value <0.001], and was easier to understand as measured subjectively [Mean (SD) – 4.96 (0.07) vs 4.44 (0.08), p-value <0.001]. However, both the TL and the ML performed similarly in communicating nutrient information as measured by the objective understanding of nutrient content [57.09% vs 54.65%, p-value 0.259]. The ML performed marginally better at improving purchase intentions [Mean (SD) – 2.57 (0.07) vs 2.79 (0.08), p-value <0.049]. The current study adds to the growing evidence base on the pathways through which FoP labels, particularly ‘high in’ labels, might influence consumer perceptions and behavior. It is also one of the first studies to provide evidence on the utility of the ML design for Brazil.

For further information, you can access the original source

Articles – Uruguay: Consumer perspectives on the inclusion of nutritional warnings in retail food establishments

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The present work aimed to assess Uruguayan consumers support of the inclusion of nutritional warnings on four types of retail food establishments and to obtain consumer insights on how the warnings could be implemented in such establishments. For this purpose, an online survey was conducted with a non-probabilistic sample of 547 participants recruited via an advertisement on social media. Participants were requested to indicate their degree of agreement with the implementation of nutritional warnings in bakeries, delicatessens, fast-food restaurants and while ordering food online, and to provide ideas on how to include this information for each establishment. Results suggested that the inclusion of nutritional warnings in retail food establishments was positively perceived by participants. Participants highlighted that warnings should be highly visible to customers while making purchase decisions, so they become a relevant cue for making food choices. In particular, the retail display case and menu boards were identified as key locations for warnings in bakeries, delicatessen, and fast food restaurants, respectively. These results contribute valuable insights on how to implement the extension of nutritional warnings to unpackaged foods or foods made and packaged at the point of purchase.

For further information, you can access the original source

Around the World – Spain: AESAN warns of the presence of milk proteins not mentioned in the labeling of several alcoholic beverages

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The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN in Spanish) has learned through the Coordinated System for the Rapid Exchange of Information (SCIRI) of an alert notification sent by the health authorities of Catalonia, regarding the presence of milk proteins not included in the labeling of various spirits.

The manufacturing company will notify all its customers and will proceed to relabel the products appropriately.

For further information, you can access the original source in Spanish