The National Health Surveillance Agency – (ANVISA in Portuguese) has published DRC No. 818 on health requirements for table-top sweeteners and dietary sweeteners.
In the case of products subject to this Resolution whose labels have already included the front nutritional labeling declaration, a period of 24 (twenty-four) months is established, counted from the date of entry into force of this Resolution.
Day: 22/10/2023
Article – Effects of front-of-package caffeine and sweetener disclaimers in Mexico: Cross-sectional results from the 2020 International Food Policy Study
Objective:
Front-of-pack warning labels introduced in Mexico in 2020 included disclaimers that caution against allowing children to consume products with non-sugary sweeteners and caffeine. We examined the awareness and use of the disclaimers among Mexican adults and youth one month after the regulation was implemented. We also investigated their impact on the perceived healthfulness of industrialized beverages designed for children.
Design:
Data on the awareness and use of the disclaimers were analyzed. Two between-subjects experiments examined the effect of a sweetener disclaimer (Experiment 1, youth and adults) or a caffeine disclaimer (Experiment 2, only adults) on the perceived healthfulness of industrialized beverages. Interactions between experimental conditions and demographic characteristics were tested.
Setting:
Online survey in 2020.
Participants:
Mexican adults (≥18 years, n=2,108) and youth (10-17 years, n=1,790).
Results:
Most participants (>80%) had seen the disclaimers at least rarely, and over 60% used them sometimes or frequently. The sweetener disclaimer led to a lower perceived healthfulness of a fruit drink (Adults: 2.74±1.44; Youth: 2.04±0.96) compared to the no-disclaimer condition (Adults: 3.17±1.54; Youth: 2.32±0.96) (t’s:>4.0, P-values: <0.001). This effect was larger among older adults and male youth. The caffeine disclaimer did not affect adult’s perceived healthfulness of a caffeinated drink (t=0.861, p value=0.3894).
Conclusions:
There was high awareness and use of the sweeteners and caffeine disclaimers shortly after the warning labels were implemented. The sweetener disclaimer appears to be helping consumers modify their perceptions regarding industrialized beverages for children. Findings may help decision-makers improve the regulation and better target communication strategies.
Argentina – Food Code amendment published on snack and cookie type products
The Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries together with the Secretariat of Health Quality have published Joint Resolution 26/2023.
ARTICLE 1º.- Article 760 tris of Chapter IX “Farinaceous Foods” of the Argentine Food Code is hereby replaced and shall be worded as follows: “Article 760 tris: With the denomination of products for snacks or for appetizers it is understood those elaborated from potatoes, cereals, flours or starches (derived from cereals, roots and tubers, legumes and pulses), with or without the addition of salt, spices, dried fruits, flavored or not, with or without the addition of other allowed ingredients, baked or fried.
ARTICLE 2.- Article 760 quater of Chapter IX “Farinaceous Foods” of the Argentine Food Code is hereby replaced and shall be worded as follows: “Article 760 quater: With the denomination of snacks cookies it is understood to the products elaborated with wheat flour or others or their mixtures with or without bran, with or without the addition of salt, with or without the addition of spices and other substances allowed for this class of products, flavored or not, with or without authorized chemical and/or biological agents, to which they are given varied forms. The cookies listed in Article 760 are excluded.
Colombia – Draft regulation on uses and maximum levels of industrial trans fats and partially hydrogenated oils
The Ministry of Health and Social Protection would establish a new technical regulation aimed at reducing the levels of trans fats in packaged foods and beverages intended for human consumption.
The project would be applicable to packaged foods, beverages and gastronomic preparations intended for human consumption in Colombia. It would also affect holders of registration, permit or sanitary notification of processed foods in the country.
Food and beverages for human consumption could not contain more than 2 grams of industrial trans fats per 100 grams of total fat. In addition, the use of partially hydrogenated oils would be prohibited in the processing of packaged foods and in the preparation of gastronomic preparations.
Packaged products would have to include on their labels the trans fat content in milligrams (mg) per 100 grams or milliliters of food and per serving of food, following the standards established in Resolution No. 810 of 2021 of the Ministry of Health.
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