In 2019, the National Observatory for Consumer Protection (ONPECO in Spanish) submitted a proposal for a Nutritional Labeling Law to the National Congress, convinced that a law would give greater regulatory force. This resolution by the Ministry of Public Health could become the basis for more robust legislation, as is already the case in other countries. Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, and others in the region are promoting labeling laws as a way to help reduce deaths from chronic diseases.
ONPECO understands that EFAN’s proposal is not a whim of the Ministry of Health, but rather responds to a mandate from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), based on scientific evidence. These institutions have documented that chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death in Latin America and the Caribbean, and these can be prevented if the foods we buy are clearly labeled with their contents, which can be achieved through front-of-package nutritional warning labels. The Front-of-Pack Nutritional Warning Label (FPNW) represents a tool for consumers to exercise their right to know what they are consuming and whether a product can harm their health. ONPECO fully supports the Ministry of Public Health’s proposal to implement black octagonal labels with white lettering indicating whether a product contains excess sugar, saturated fats, trans fats, or sweeteners. This measure does not apply to all foods, but only to those containing critical ingredients.