Article – Impact of nutrient warning labels on Colombian consumers’ selection and identification of food and drinks high in sugar, sodium, and saturated fat: A randomized controlled trial

03/07/2024 / infoAlimentario

Objective

This study assessed the impact of nutrient warnings on product selection and ability to identify food products high in nutrients of concern in Colombia.

Methods

In an online experiment (May-June 2023), Colombian adults were randomized to a nutrient warning, guideline daily amounts (GDA), Nutri-Score, or no-label condition (n = 8,004). Participants completed selection tasks between two fruit drinks labeled according to their condition, one high in sugar and one not. Next, participants answered questions about products high in sugar, sodium, and/or saturated fat (“high-in” product). Finally, they selected which label would most discourage them from consuming a high-in product.

Results

Fewer participants (17%) exposed to the nutrient warning indicated they would purchase the high-sugar fruit drink compared to Nutri-Score (27%, Holm-adjusted (adj) p<0.001) and no label conditions (31%, adj p<0.001); there were no differences between the nutrient warning and GDA label (14%, adj p = 0.087). Compared to the nutrient warning, the GDA label was slightly more effective at helping consumers identify which drink was high in sugar (89% versus 92%, adj p<0.001), while the Nutri-Score and no-label conditions were less effective. Compared to all other conditions, nutrient warnings were more effective at helping participants identify that products were high in nutrients of concern, were more effective at decreasing intentions to purchase these high-in products and were perceived as more effective. Nutrient warnings were most often selected as the label that most discouraged consumption.

Conclusions

Nutrient warnings are a promising policy to help consumers identify and discourage consumption of products high in nutrients of concern.

journal.pone_.0303514-1 Download

Colombia: PAHO congratulates the Ministry of Health for its efforts in food labeling

13/08/2022 / infoAlimentario

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) congratulated the Ministry of Health and Social Protection (MinSalud) for advancing the process of labeling processed foods.
Through its Twitter account, the PAHO delegation in Colombia assured that this modification is an advance in public health in the country.

“PAHO congratulates the authorities for the publication of the new front labeling resolution that modifies Resolution 810. It is a great advance in the prevention of obesity in Colombia,” said the agency.

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

Colombia: Colombia Issues Nutrition and Front of Pack Labeling Requirements for Processed Foods

27/05/2022 / infoAlimentario

On June 16, 2021, Colombia’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection (MINHEALTH) issued Resolution No. 810 establishing the technical regulation for nutrition and front-of pack labeling requirements for packaged food for human consumption, which will go into effect on December 16, 2022. This report includes the original regulation and an English translation.

colombia-issues-nutrition-and-front-of-pack-labeling-requirements-for-processed-foods_bogota_colombia_co2022-0009 Download

For further information, you can access the original source

The Americas – Colombia: Invitation to tender opened for identification of front-of-pack warning label

09/05/2022 / infoAlimentario

The Ministry of Health opened a public call to begin a study, with the “best available evidence”, to identify what type of front warning seal a package with high levels of sodium, sugars or saturated fats should have.
The tender is titled “Front labeling process” and requests the evaluation of the best available evidence to establish shapes, color, size, legends and location of the front warning labeling for processed products in Colombia. In the study, two reports must be submitted: the first one, 15 days after the bid is submitted, on how the study will be carried out; the second one, the complete results by July 17, 2022.

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

The Americas – Colombia: The model of the advent labeling to be applied will be decided according to Vice Minister of Health

12/04/2022 / infoAlimentario

According to the official, here reality is a function of what the evidence tells us, so I want to be very transparent. There are hexagonal and octagonal seals that show a degree of evidence. If the study shows that these are the best seals, then we will have to take measures,” added the official.
He also stated that before the end of Iván Duque’s government, the results of an independent study will be known and technical decisions will be taken based on the users.