The tax reform is being regulated in Congress and there are proposals for surcharges on processed foods and beverages, including the selective tax. The tax is intended to discourage the consumption of products considered “harmful to health and the environment”. According to the current draft regulations, the tax covers the following products and services: sugared beverages, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and tobacco products, vehicles, and extraction of mineral goods and petroleum.
Only 28% of the people surveyed responded that they know a lot or a fair amount about the Healthy Food Promotion Act, better known as front labeling. The data is derived from research conducted by ShopApp until June 2023. This figure contrasts with the 67% of respondents who said they agreed with this measure.
With the aim of raising awareness and helping the population to understand the seals currently displayed on foods, the Argentine Federation of Cardiology (FAC in Spanish) analyzes each of these insignia and their effect on cardiovascular health.
At present, as regulated by law, food manufacturers are obliged to declare up to five categories of excesses and two warnings. Each of them has a reference value following the recommendations of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). “As a scientific organization, we have a responsibility to help the population understand the meaning of these values on packaging. The correct understanding of these warnings brings both therapeutic and preventive benefits,” says Dr. José María Silveyra (MN 118085), cardiologist; president of the Obesity and Diabetes Committee of the Argentine Federation of Cardiology (FAC).
Campaign developed by Moringa agency focuses attention on ingredients that indicate whether a product is ultra-processed or not
The Consumer Protection Institute (Idec) takes another step in raising awareness among the population about the consumption of ultra-processed products. In the new campaign created by the agency Moringa, Idec calls on consumers to read the fine print on food product labels and pay attention to ingredients such as colorings, flavorings and sweeteners (popularly known as sweeteners). The presence of these food additives indicates that the product is ultra-processed and its consumption can be harmful to health.
The National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA in Portuguese) made available, this Wednesday (7/03), a new comprehensive guide to guide the determination of expiration dates of foods sold in Brazil. This document, which comes into force immediately, aims to improve food safety standards and was developed based on recognized international references.
The guide establishes guidelines based on best regulatory practices, including contributions from authorities in Australia, New Zealand and the International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations (IADSA). It also incorporates preservation technologies recommended by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
This second version of the guide was carefully revised to update terminology, improve methodologies and incorporate comments from society and experts received during the first public consultation period.
The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) is the only alliance of civil society organizations dedicated to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the Caribbean sub-region, which has the highest NCD mortality rates in the Region of the Americas.
HCC has maintained official relations with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) since 2012. Collaboration between the two was formalized in 2020 through a series of letters of agreement that have facilitated significant achievements in several priority strategies related to NCDs in the Caribbean.
Nutrition labeling is a key area of joint work. The Caribbean subregion has long been engaged in the complex process of incorporating warning labels on the front of food products. As a strategic partner of PAHO, HCC is advocating for octagonal warning labels on the front of food products to be included in the Caribbean standard for the labeling of prepackaged foods.
As part of broader regional efforts to communicate and promote healthy food policies, PAHO and HCC have led a series of digital campaigns in several countries with regional partners such as the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission, national civil society organizations and nearly 1500 individuals in the Caribbean who have expressed support for the inclusion of octagonal warning labels and have called for greater transparency and accountability in the standard setting process.
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