The industry of dietary supplements has increased in recent years, mainly add-ons to the base protein powder, are widely used by practitioners of bodybuilding, interested in the gain of muscle mass. In this way, to prevent the indiscriminate consumption of protein supplements by practitioners of physical activity, the present study aimed to evaluate the labels of whey protein ` whey protein sold in the shops of Fortaleza – CE, according to the standards RDC n° 18, 27 April 2010. This is a quantitative study, exploratory and descriptive, where there has been a review of different brands of protein supplements whey. The samples were selected according to the indication of protein supplements, being analyzed in accordance with availability of shops, the municipality of Fortaleza – CE. Were evaluated 20 brands, of these, only 80% were in compliance with the legislation, while 20% were in disagreement. With regard to the non- conformities highlighted the lack of information, ` The expressions: anabolic, muscle hypertrophy in 20% of the labels, and the description `Images, and or expressions regarding weight loss, muscle mass gain 10% were in disagreement. As the Addition of fibers 75 % were in disagreement with the legislation. With this, we highlight the need of continuous surveillance and effective of the labels of supplements for athletes and practitioners of physical activity, with a guarantee that consumers have access to trusted information about the product. It is concluded that a large part of the labels of protein supplements for athletes had some type of inadequacy in accordance with the proposed objective.
Day: 12/05/2023
Article – Editorial: Strengthening food labeling policies in Brazil
Food labeling policies can have different purposes, but consumers’ right to protection, human rights to health and to adequate food, the rights of the child and all other interdependent human rights prevail. For this reason, research that seeks to inform the best policy options in fulfilling, protecting, and respecting these rights is paramount.
Brazil is known for novel research and action that have led to great advance of knowledge and policies on nutrition and health globally. Different sorts of edible and drinkable products have been historically defined as foods and manufactured and labeled to mimic foods.
Unhealthy edible and drinkable commodities industry have insisted on the use of market-forged categorization of products with the purpose of demonstrating an artificial diversification of alike products, for which labeling has been an instrument of consumer deception.
Labeling is often used to distort the real composition of products. Batti et al. found that half of the food products they assessed in Brazil that highlighted the term whole grain or related expressions on the front label did not have a whole-grain ingredient listed in the first position of the ingredients list. Barros et al. also revealed how the ingredients are listed on labels in ways that hide products real content and composition, showing that the use non-specific terms for listing industrially produced trans fatty acids (i-TFA) ingredients in foods that are sources of i-TFA increased in Brazil. Prates et al. have shown how the use of nutrition claims convey such deception, corroborating previous findings. Unfortunately, the labeling regulation in Brazil still allows the use of claims in products that are not recommended as part of a healthy diet, as Mais, Borges et al. described. Along these lines, Sato et al. also highlighted in their paper the importance of regulating other persuasive elements that can strengthen deception, such as mascots and cartoon characters.
Argentina – Amendment on honey labeling published in the Food Code
The Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and Secretariat of Quality in Health publish JointResolución Conjunta 14/2023.
ARTICLE 1.- Article 783 tris is incorporated into the Argentine Food Code, which will read as follows: “Article 783 tris: The possibility of consigning characteristic attributes of the products is reserved for honey and yacht honey products on their labels. same as described in this Code. Sugary products, with the exception of confectionery products, that do not meet the regulatory specifications for honey and yacht honey may not include descriptions or pictorial representations of bees -or similar insects-, beehives, honeycombs, flowers, on the label. or own elements related to the beekeeping activity. Nor may they mention or highlight the term honey or any particular property linked to it or to the composition of any other of its ingredients, either through graphic representations and/or optional legends.”
Argentina – The Mercosur Resolution on additives and their maximum limits in the meat category is incorporated into the Food Code
The Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and Secretariat of Quality in Health publish Joint Resolution 13/2023.
ARTICLE 1 – The text of article 323 bis of the Argentine Food Code is replaced by the text of Resolution No. 63 of December 16, 2018 of the COMMON MARKET GROUP “MERCOSUR TECHNICAL REGULATION FOR THE ALLOCATION OF ADDITIVES AND ITS MAXIMUM LIMITS FOR THE CATEGORY OF FOOD: CATEGORY 8: MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS (REPEAL OF GMC RESOLUTION No. 73/97)”, which as Annex I, registered under No. IF-2022-03939953- -APN-DLEIAER#ANMAT, is an integral part of the this joint resolution.
USA – Report/The Prevalence of the “Natural” Claim on Food Product Packaging
U.S. food suppliers make claims about their production processes on food packaging that highlight attributes some consumers want while charging a higher price than for unlabeled products. Some labels use such claims as “USDA Organic” and “raised without antibiotics,” which require different and more expensive production techniques than conventional agriculture. However, food suppliers can make the “natural” claim at relatively low cost because regulatory agencies treat the claim as meaning nothing artificial was added and the product was minimally processed. Numerous consumer food choice studies have concluded that the “natural” label on food is often equated with healthier food choices and more costly production practices that signify environmental stewardship. Based on scanner data and comprehensive label data, this report estimates the frequency with which food suppliers make the “natural” claim on label food packaging.
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