Nutrition

Food Labelling. The XXI International Congress of Nutrition took place in Argentina October 15th-20th under the sponsorship of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS), institution that brings together various organizations of nutritionists from around the world. Among the conclusions of the event, it was agreed to work together to ensure that the foods markets in Latin America exhibit a unified labelling.

During the event, experiences in various countries regarding food labelling were exposed. For example, Michael Rayner, professor at the University of Oxford and who was in charge of the development of the nutritional profile FSA (Food Standards Agency), based on the “Nutritional Traffic Light” used in the United Kingdom since 2006, assured that this modality of successful labelling is part of the “European system” and is already present in 60% of packaged foods.

Moreover, Esteban Carmuega, Scientific Director of the Center for Studies on Child Nutrition (CESNI, Argentina), reported that in the world there are about 95 different models of nutrient profiles. Although in Latin America they only started to be implemented in 2015, this is the region where the fastest progress is being made. “Too fast,” he acknowledged.

Marcela Reyes, professor at the National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, attached to the University of Chile, shared the Chilean experience regarding food labelling. This system is based on black octagonal seals that warn the consumer when the product is high in sodium, sugar or saturated fat and calories.

Beyond the different experiences in each country, the professionals present at the event agreed on the relevance of harmonizing nutritional profiles and frontal labelling systems at a regional level.

Next steps

Beyond the consensus present in the IUNS regarding the need to achieve a unified labelling at the regional level, the truth is that this represents a complex task, because each country is sovereign when defining its own regulations.