Food packaging should have labels on front about health impact
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has drafted guidelines to encourage consumers to make healthier choices by reading nutritional information on product labels. This move aims to combat the global obesity crisis, which affects over a billion people and causes approximately eight million early deaths annually due to related health issues like diabetes and heart disease.
Only 43 WHO member states currently implement front-of-package labeling, despite evidence showing its impact on consumer behavior. The WHO's guidelines, initiated in 2019, recommend "interpretive" labels with nutritional information and healthiness explanations.
Examples of effective labeling systems include NutriScore, used in France and other European countries, which ranks food from A (green) to E (red) based on nutrient content. Chile and some Latin American countries use a stricter system, with clear warnings about high sugar, salt, or fat content.
However, the food industry has pushed back against warning labels, favoring "non-interpretive" labels without explanatory guides. Research by Lindsey Smith Taillie shows that warning labels can lead to significant reductions in sugar, sodium, and saturated fat consumption.
The International Food and Beverage Alliance supports the WHO's guidelines but opposes warning labels, citing concerns about demonizing specific products. They advocate for listing nutrients on the back of packages and energy content on the front.
Some companies, like Mondelez International, already provide nutrition labeling on their products worldwide. They support calorie front-of-pack systems based on local daily reference values.
The WHO's guidance stops short of recommending harsher warning labels, but experts like Taillie argue that warning labels are crucial for limiting excess intake of added sugars, sodium, and saturated fats.
The final version of the WHO's guidelines will be released in early 2025, following a public consultation that closed on October 11.
Only 43 WHO member states currently implement front-of-package labeling, despite evidence showing its impact on consumer behavior. The WHO's guidelines, initiated in 2019, recommend "interpretive" labels with nutritional information and healthiness explanations.
Examples of effective labeling systems include NutriScore, used in France and other European countries, which ranks food from A (green) to E (red) based on nutrient content. Chile and some Latin American countries use a stricter system, with clear warnings about high sugar, salt, or fat content.
However, the food industry has pushed back against warning labels, favoring "non-interpretive" labels without explanatory guides. Research by Lindsey Smith Taillie shows that warning labels can lead to significant reductions in sugar, sodium, and saturated fat consumption.
The International Food and Beverage Alliance supports the WHO's guidelines but opposes warning labels, citing concerns about demonizing specific products. They advocate for listing nutrients on the back of packages and energy content on the front.
Some companies, like Mondelez International, already provide nutrition labeling on their products worldwide. They support calorie front-of-pack systems based on local daily reference values.
The WHO's guidance stops short of recommending harsher warning labels, but experts like Taillie argue that warning labels are crucial for limiting excess intake of added sugars, sodium, and saturated fats.
The final version of the WHO's guidelines will be released in early 2025, following a public consultation that closed on October 11.