On Tuesday, Representative Jairo Flores summoned Gabriela García, head of the Ministry of Economy, to learn the ministry’s position on Initiative 5504, a law promoting healthy eating.

Congressman Flores explained that the bill seeks to guarantee the population’s right to make informed decisions about the consumption of ultra-processed foods and the damage they can cause to their health, as well as to implement front-of-package labeling for products that contain excessive amounts of sugar, sodium, saturated fats, and trans fats (vegetable fat created by industrial processes).
Minister Gabriela García said that the position of the ministry she represents is in favor of the bill, which she considers important given that the rates of diseases caused by the consumption of processed products are triggering various illnesses.
At the end of the meeting, it was agreed to hold a technical roundtable with the participation of MiNECO, the Secretariat of Food and Nutritional Security (SESAN), the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS), academics, and social organizations.
The legislator reported that the technical roundtable will hold a meeting on July 29, to which these entities will be invited.