ultra-processed foods

Brazil – Bill introduced to make mandatory the inclusion of warnings on labels of ultra-processed foods

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Senator Dr. Eudócia (PL/AL) presented a bill that seeks to make mandatory the inclusion of warnings on the labels of ultra-processed foods, alerting consumers about the high carcinogenic potential of these products. The proposal amends Decree-Law No. 986 of 1969, which establishes the basic standards for food, and introduces the requirement that packaging must clearly and visibly display the warning: “High carcinogenic potential”.

The measure seeks to guarantee the consumer’s right to information, as provided for in the Consumer Protection Code (CDC), and seeks to increase transparency about the health risks associated with excessive consumption of these products, especially among children and young people. National and international scientific studies cited in the justification of the bill point to a direct relationship between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and the increase in the incidence of various types of cancer, with special emphasis on early stage colorectal cancer, whose increase has been worrisome among those under 50 years of age.

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

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Article – Communication and challenges of ngo in Brazil, Colombia,United States and Mexico: the case of misleading advertising in ultra-processed foods

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This article analyzes the actions that the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that pro-tect Consumer Rights in Brazil, Colombia, the United States and Mexico perform against misleading advertising in ultra-processed foods. This type of food promotes unhealthy eat-ing habits for children; causes excess weight to be a determining risk factor for chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs); and affects the health and quality of life of the popu-lation. Ultraprocessed foods, are considered to be the main factor in the epidemic called globesity, which is why ngo that protect Consumer Rights have made efforts to counteract the misleading communication and advertising strategies followed by the ultraprocessed food industry. The methodology of the study is of qualitative nature through in-depth in-terviews with the directors of six ngo from the aforementioned countries. The study includes the main actions thatngocarry out to demonstrate, inform, persuade and exert pressure on the food processing industry underlining the importance of communication and education in the work of defending consumer rights and the need for incorporate digi-tal media in its activity of information, feedback, manifestation and linking of parents, aca-demic communities, public opinion, legislative groups, government authorities and society in general.

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

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Article/Brazil – Promotion of ultra-processed foods in Brazil: combined use of claims and promotional features on packaging

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OBJECTIVE: To assess the availability of different promotional strategies applied for UPF sales in Brazilian food retailers.

METHODS: Information available on food packaging was gathered from all packaged products sold in the five largest food retail chains in Brazil in 2017. UPF were identified using the NOVA food classification system. From this sample, data related to promotional characteristics, nutrition claims and health claims were collected and coded using the INFORMAS methodology. Additional claims referring to the Brazilian Dietary Guidelines were also collected.

RESULTS: This study evaluated the packaging of 2,238 UPF, of which 59.8% presented at least one promotional strategy. Almost one third denoted a simultaneous use of different promotional strategies in the same packaging. Nutrition claims were the most commonly found promotional strategy, followed by health claims and the use of characters. The food subgroups comprising the highest prevalence of promotional strategies on their labels were: noncaloric sweeteners (100.0%), breakfast cereals and granola bars (96.2%), juices, nectars and fruit-flavoured drinks (92.9%), other unsweetened beverages (92.9%), and other sweetened beverages (92.6%).

CONCLUSIONS: Considering the poor nutritional quality of UPF, the widespread presence of promotional features on their packaging highlights the need for marketing restrictions on this kind of product.

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Article – Study on the regulatory process for the labeling of ultra-processed foods: the Colombian case

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This journal article describes from a characterization of Law & Journalism the scenario of institutional weakness
experienced by Colombia regarding the labeling of ultra-processed foods, evidencing a field where there were no
rules of the game, which had a structural impact on the regulatory system, that is, a section of the regulatory
framework (legal and regulatory) focused on protecting the right to health, safeguarding consumer sovereignty and,
in short, satisfying the general interest of a population immersed in a context of market failures. In this sense, this
article proposes a preliminary review from a narrative and theoretical-descriptive perspective and through a historical
account, if we consider the recent changes in the Colombian normative-regulatory model.

RJ&D+2033+(1)Descarga

Article – Reformulation of Top-Selling Processed and Ultra-Processed Foods and Beverages in the Peruvian Food Supply after Front-of-Package Warning Label Policy

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Front-of-package warning label (FOPWL) policies incentivize the food industry to reduce the content of regulated nutrients in products. We explored changes in the content of nutrients of concern (sugar, saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium) and the percentage of products in the Peruvian food supply that would carry a FOPWL before and after Peru’s implementation of FOPWLs. Longitudinal data on the top-selling foods and beverages (n = 94) were collected at three time points: three months before the implementation of the policy, four months after, and two years after. Using the nutritional information declared on products’ labels, we compared quantities of nutrients of concern and the percentage of foods that would carry a FOPWL at each time point. Between the first and the third data collection, a decrease in the median sugar content of beverages was observed (from 9.0 to 5.9 g/100 mL, p = 0.005), accompanied by an increase in the use of nonnutritive sweeteners. This change drove the reduction of the percentage of beverages that would carry a FOPWL (from 59 to 31%, p = 0.011). Among foods, decreases were observed in saturated fat (from 6.7 to 5.9 g/100 g, p = 0.002). The percentage of foods that would carry a FOPWL according to their nutritional profile declined from before to after implementation of the policy (from 82 to 62%, p < 0.001). The study shows that the industry reformulated products in Peru after implementation of its FOPWL policy.

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