Brasil – Federal Regional Court confirms Anvisa’s competence to regulate the advertising of foods with high sugar, salt and fat content

19/06/2025 / infoAlimentario

The Federal Attorney General’s Office (AGU in Portuguese) obtained another favorable court ruling confirming the validity of the resolution of the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) (RDC N 24/2010) on the advertising of foods considered harmful to health. These include foods high in sugar, saturated fats, trans fats and sodium, as well as beverages with low nutritional value. The decision of the 11th Chamber of the Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region (TRF1) rejected a lawsuit filed by a commercial entity against the Anvisa rule and upheld the validity of the ruling. In 2023, the 6th Chamber of the TRF1 also rejected a similar claim, preserving the regulatory agency’s powers.
Anvisa’s resolution determines that the advertising of these foods must clearly identify the high content of these nutrients in the advertising pieces, in addition to containing a warning that consuming them in large quantities increases the risk of health damage, such as the development of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

The validity of the regulation was challenged by the Brazilian Association of Soft Drinks and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Industries (ABIR in Portuguese) as unconstitutional and illegal due to its violation of the principles of freedom of communication and legal reserve. The association claimed that Anvisa had infringed the jurisdiction limited to federal law by imposing health warning clauses in the advertising of certain foods, without due scientific proof of their harmful effects.Chamber of the Federal Regional Court confirms Anvisa’s competence to regulate the advertising of foods high in sugar, salt and fat.

Argentina – Avocado oil is added to the Argentine Food Codex

19/06/2025 / infoAlimentario

By means of Joint Resolution 32/2025, the Secretariat of Health Management and the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries have modified the Argentine Food Code to incorporate avocado oil into Article 528.

The regulation establishes that the oil must come from the mesocarp of the Persea americana fruit or from the processing of the whole fruit by exclusively mechanical means. The use of additives is not permitted and specific quality standards are set, such as a predominance of oleic acid of 42% to 75%, a peroxide index of less than 10 meq O/kg and standardized physicochemical parameters. The product stands out for its nutritional properties and represents a diversification opportunity for the Argentine agri-food sector.

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Argentina – Canaryseed incorporated into the Argentine Food Code

19/06/2025 / infoAlimentario

The incorporated canaryseed must be duly identified with the corresponding variety and bear the legend “Suitable for human consumption”. From a nutritional point of view, the grain has a protein content 5% higher than wheat and does not contain gluten, which positions it as a promising ingredient for functional foods and special diets.

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Panama – Front-of-Food Labeling receives more institutional support

19/06/2025 / infoAlimentario

The Healthy Eating Movement has the support of the Minister of Health, Fernando Boyd Galindo, in its crusade to approve the front labeling of food products.

The Minister said that front labeling is a measure backed by scientific evidence, endorsed by international organizations, as part of a broader health and wellness strategy.

The Minister’s support is a good sign for the promoters of this project, which has not been able to advance in the three occasions it has been presented.

The independent deputy, Yarelis Rodríguez, considers that it is possible for it to be approved in the next session.

“Now that we are united and working as a team, together with the Ministry of Health, the civil society, PAHO and also with international support, I believe that we will be able to achieve it and we will have this law that we want so much, mainly, so that the right to health and to be informed is fulfilled”, said the deputy.

She added that it is important to raise awareness in the food industry, which also has to offer both information and healthy products that can help the population.

Mexico – Proposed regulation of nutritional information in fast food and beverage establishments

19/06/2025 / infoAlimentario

With the purpose of establishing the obligation for establishments dedicated to the preparation and service of food and beverages for fast consumption to clearly advertise the amount of calories contained in their products, Congresswoman Araceli Geraldo Núñez presented an initiative to reform the Public Health Law of the State of Baja California.

In this regard, the legislator recalled that on November 8, 2019, a decree was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation that reformed various provisions of the General Health Law, regarding overweight, obesity and labeling of food and non-alcoholic beverages.

He pointed out that, in the current context, where the pace of life is accelerated, the population consumes approximately one third of its calories outside the home, through foods that, in general, contain higher amounts of calories, sodium and saturated fats compared to those prepared at home. In addition, per capita consumption of ultra-processed foods remains high.