Article: The right to food: What do the constitutions of America and the Caribbean say?

/ infoAlimentario

Introduction:

Many American and Caribbean countries consider the right to food as constitutional right. Chile does not have this explicit right in the Constitution.

Objective:

To describe comparatively how the right to food is explicit in the constitutions of American and Caribbean countries, generating inputs for those countries that do not have this constitutional right, such as the case of Chile.

Data sources:

This research was carried out on platforms: Food and Nutritional Security (SAN-CELAC), Right to Food in the World (FAO) and Constitute Project which presents constitutions of the world.

Revision method:

A revision was made of all available constitutions of American and independent Caribbean countries, dependent territories and overseas departments in the Region. Subsequently, in those countries which explicitly consider the right to food in constitutional texts, a review of general characteristics and right to food-associated concepts, suggested by FAO, was carried out. The review was carried out between June and September 2020.

Results:

Of the total of countries reviewed (n= 42), 40.5% presented the right to food in constitutional text. The most frequently associated concept was food security.

Conclusion:

Most of the revised constitutions accompany the right to food with food safety, availability and accessibility characteristics, and include kinds of judicialization, concepts that should be incorporated into the new Magna Carta of Chile.

For further information, you can access the original source in Spanish

Brazil: ANVISA changes presentation format on opinions of the food area

/ infoAlimentario

The National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA in Portuguese) informs that it will adopt a new format for publication of minutes in the Official Gazette (DOU in Portuguese), in the processes of registration, post-registration and evaluation of the Food area. It should be noted that the change will also include requests for alteration, revalidation and cancellation of these products.

In this regard, it is important to clarify that, as of next Monday (16/5), these publications will only contain essential information for the identification of the request before the Agency: company name/CNPJ, product name, procedure number, registration number, subject of the request and file number.

For further information, you can access the original source in Portuguse

Brazil: Guide to questions and answers on post-publication of food petitions

/ infoAlimentario

The National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) has just published the first edition of Questions and Answers: requests after publication of requests for evaluation in the food sector. The document clarifies 10 frequent doubts about the procedures that companies can adopt after the publication of the Agency’s decision on the evaluated request.

The publication provides guidelines such as requests for correction of opinions, consultation panels and publications in the Official Journal of the Union (OJU). It is important to clarify that the instrument is indicative, it is only for decision, it does not make changes to the current regulations.

perguntas-frequentes-pos-publicacaoDownload

For further information, you can access the original source in Portuguse

Spain: New nutritional labeling: an opportunity for olive oil

/ infoAlimentario

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food points out that harmonization in a single EU front nutritional labeling will help to ensure consumer safety and to highlight the health properties of olive oil.

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, has expressed the need to recognize the health properties of olive oils in the future front nutritional labeling of the European Union (EU), which will be mandatory and equal for all Member States in the near future, to convey to the consumer all the information with the greatest possible clarity and solvency.

For further information, you can access the original source in Spanish

Article: Efforts in adopting the ultra-processed food and soft drinks labeling legislation in a COVID-19 environment: The cases of Colombia and Mexico

/ infoAlimentario

Diabetes contributes to COVID-19 deaths in Colombia and Mexico, where the latter having the highest prevalence of diabetes among OECD countries. Some reports consider that advertising influences diabetes by confusing labels on ultra-processed foods and soft drinks that lead to unhealthy food choices. Both countries are in the process of modifying their labeling legislation; however, governments and food industries have pushed to delay its implementation. Using a mixed research design, we interviewed 550 consumers in both countries during June–July 2020; a high number of respondents misunderstand today’s food labeling and are unaware of the new labeling legislation. Respondents strongly agree that the food industry should be in charge of changing the labels; otherwise, they would consider not buying their products. Using cluster analysis, we identified three groups that would help design public policies, nutritional and educational campaigns. Although changes in food labeling alone are not enough to reduce obesity and diabetes rates, food labels constitute public health tools due they assist consumers to make food and nutritional choices (considering that nutrition can help prevent and overcome COVID-19). The costs of maintaining current labels could increase Colombians and Mexicans illnesss and poverty. These deceptive practices of the food industry would harm their brands.

For further information, you can access the original source