Objectives. To estimate the number of processed and ultra-processed beverages and foods that provide nutritional information on their packaging, and to describe the characteristics of this information, as well as to determine the presence of nutritional information on products with octagons. Materials and methods. Photographs were taken of the labels of 4404 processed and ultra-processed beverages and foods marketed in supermarkets in Metropolitan Lima. The information on the label was collected and registered in the mobile and web version of the Food Label Information Program (FLIP). We analyzed
variables related to the nutritional information, the way in which such information is declared and the information in beverages and foods with octagons. Results. Only 71.4% of the products had some type of nutritional information. Of these, 13.8% provided the nutritional information as a text and not in a table, and only 56.3% declared it per 100 grams or milliliters. Of the total number of foods with the
octagon “Contains trans fats”, only 19.2% declared their content. Conclusions. More than a quarter of the beverages and packaged foods in the Peruvian market did not provide nutritional information of any kind, and of those that did, only one did so in different formats and units. In addition, we found that a proportion of beverages and foods for each type of octagon did not declare information of the nutrient
that is mentioned in the octagon.
Month: July 2023
Panama – Extended the term of the public consultation on the draft amendment of the resolution of vitamin supplements
The Ministry of Health has extended the deadline until August 2, 2023 to receive comments on the Ministerial Resolution “That establishes the regulations for the registration of Vitamin, Dietary and Food Supplements with Therapeutic Properties”. The public consultation aims to update the current regulation, which dates from May 29, 2019 (Resolution N° 550), in order to ensure that the process of sanitary registration of vitamin, dietary and food supplements is consistent with Law No. 1 of January 10, 2001
Resolution N° 550
Draft amendment to Resolution N° 550
Panama – Ministry of Health publishes temporary extension of the validity of sanitary registrations for food for consumption
The Ministry of Health published Resolution No. 1310 that establishes a temporary extension of the validity of the national sanitary registries of food for human consumption for a period of three months, published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Panama No. 29818 of Wednesday, December 5. July 2023.
Chile – New labeling for alcoholic beverages with warning octagons as of 2024
The Ministry of the Interior and Public Safety has published Decree No. 98/2023 approving the Regulations of Articles 40 bis and 40 ter of Law No. 19,925 on the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages.
As in the case of food containers, alcoholic beverages -equal or higher than 0.5° alcohol content- shall have octagonal black and white seals, which in this case shall read as follows:
- “Do not drink while driving” (accompanied by the crossed-out drawing of a car) will be written on these stamps,
- “Risk for your baby” (accompanied by the crossed-out drawing of a pregnant woman drinking).
- “No drinking under 18”.
Nicaragua – Adoption of Central American Technical Regulation: NTON/RTCA 67.04.79:23 Dairy Products. Yogurt. Specifications
The Ministry of Development, Industry and Commerce (MIFIC) published in public consultation the Central American Technical Regulation: NTON/RTCA 67.04.79:23 Dairy Products. Yogurt (Yogurt, Yogurth, Yoghurt, Yogourt). Specifications for adoption in national regulations. This RTCA establishes the technical specifications to be met by yoghurt, based on the definition in numeral 4.1 of the based on the definition contained in numeral 4.1 of the technical regulation. technical regulation. The regulation provides elements for the classification and composition of yogurt. It applies to y ogurt destined for direct human consumption or further processing in the territory of the territory of the States Parties.
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