Objective: To know the characteristics of misleading advertising in the food industry as a strategy to encourage consumption even with the enactment of the junk food law – 2021. Method: Qualitative, descriptive research is carried out with a family from the municipality from Pitalito in the department of Huila, the instrument used was the interview. Results: The calorie intake of ultra-processed foods is an indicator of nutritional quality, these foods have a lower nutritional quality than fresh or minimally processed foods combined. Discussions: Nutrition messages that appear on food labels deserve special attention, due to misinformation and misleading advertising. Junk Food Project 167 of 2019 is aimed at improving this information. Conclusions: It is necessary for the food industry to guarantee the full protection and prevalence of consumer rights. Various sectors of society and the government itself have mobilized in favor of the drafting of more restrictive legislation in relation to the advertising of unhealthy foods and beverages directed at children.
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Article – The labelling of ultra-processed foods, ‘ideological biases’ and ‘false consciousness’: a historical narrative of the experience in Colombia
While COVID-19 attacked people with diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, among other non-communicable diseases, the former Colombian government was betting on implementing a value-added tax (VAT) on the cost of production for food for the family basket (Paladines and Castellanos, 2021a, 2021c, 2021d, 2021e). It was added to a scenario of institutional weakness, evidenced by a social context ruled by a legal architecture showing a lack of positive and structural impact in the protection of the right to health, safeguarding the sovereignty of the consumer, and in short, in satisfying the general interest of a population immersed in a background of false consciousness, scenarios of sub-optimal choice and the prevalence of ideological and cognitive bias. Moreover, this article proposes a historical account if we consider the recent changes in the Colombian normative-regulatory model in the labelling of ultra-processed foods before the approval of a new regulation and agenda in December 2022.
Argetina/Article – Act 27642 and food labelling: a step forward in ensuring the right to proper nutrition
In this paper we will address the right to proper nutrition, focusing on its regulation in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and we will examine one aspect of this right: food labeling. Accordingly, we will mention the different labelling models used in the world pointing out the complexity and challenges this right present in accomplishing its full effectiveness. Also, we will make a particularized analysis of the Argentinean’s Act 27642 of Healthy Food Promotion (known as “labelling law”), its legislative backgrounds and the protection of vulnerable groups. Then, we will make a critical analysis on where the Argentinean’s proper nutrition right stands. Finally, we will conclude that accomplishing the effectiveness of proper nutrition right re quires a great challenge that demands not only regulatory measures of the normative type (suchas the labelling law) but also concrete, continuous, intense, clear, and interdisciplinary measures. Thus, although labelling law is a big step towards that goal, it cannot solve the problem by itself because it demands a continuous social, political, and economic commitment.
Article – Sociodemographic differences in nutrition labels effect on Chilean and Mexican youth
Objective. To examine sociodemographic differences in the awareness, understanding, use and effect of nutrition labels among Mexican and Chilean youth.
Methods. Online surveys among youth (10-17 years) were obtained in 2019 (n=2631). Participants reported their awareness, understanding, and use of their country-specific nutrition facts tables (NFT) and front-of-pack labels (FOPL) (Chile: warning labels [WLs]; Mexico: guideline daily amounts [GDA]). Additionally, participants reported their perceived healthfulness of a sweetened fruit drink after viewing one of six versions of it withdifferent FOPL (no-label control, Health Star Rating, WLs, GDAs, Traffic Light, or Nutri-Score) during an exper-imental task.
Results. Higher self-reported nutrition knowledge was associated with higher NFT and FOPL awareness, understanding, and use, except for WL use. WLs were the most effective FOPL in decreasing the perceived healthfulness of the sweetened fruit drink compared to a no-label condition and other FOP labels. In Chile, the effect of GDA differed by income adequacy, while in Mexico Nutri-Score differed by age.
Conclusions. Results suggest that nutrition label awareness, use, understanding, and impact differ across demographics, favoring higher income and nutrition knowledge. Despite this, WLs are likely to have a positive impact on nutrition-related knowledge and behaviors among Mexican and Chilean youth, independently of their socio-demographic groups.
Article – Front-of-package warning labelling system for pre-packaged foods and beverages: an intersectoral position of expertsin Central American and Dominican Republic
The Latin American region has been a pioneer in the implementation of a front- of-pack warning labeling system (FOPWL), which has demonstrated its efficacy and effectiveness in correctly identifying when a product contains excessive amounts of nutrients associated with Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). However, countries of the Central American Integration System (SICA); which includes Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and the Dominican Republic, have no adopted it. For this reason, the Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama convened a group of experts from academia and civil society with the aim of establishing an evidence-based technical position, in relation to front-of-pack labelling for critical nutrients of pre-packaged foods and beverages in the Central American region. Specif ic evidence f rom the SICA region demonstrating the superiority of FOPWL over other labels such as the Guideline Daily Amount (GDA), the traff ic light and Nutriscore to select healthier choices is presented. Within the f ramework of children’s and consumer rights, arguments are provided, and a call is made to governments for the prompt adoption of FOPWL as a cost-effective policy for the prevention of NCDs. In addition, recommendations for its monitoring and evaluation are provided, as well as recommendations for other cost-effective policies such as the regulation of unhealthy food advertising aimed at children and adolescents, among others, for the prevention of NCDs and the creation ofhealthier and more sustainable environments and food systems.
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