Citation
Mora-Plazas, Mercedes; Gomez, Luis F.; Miles, Donna R.; Parra, Diana C.; & Taillie, Lindsey Smith (2019). Nutrition Quality of Packaged Foods in Bogota, Colombia: A Comparison of Two Nutrient Profile Models. Nutrients, 11(5), 1011. PMCID: PMC6567873Abstract
BACKGROUND: Front-of-package warning labels are an increasingly common policy and have been implemented to inform consumers of the nutritional quality of ultra-processed foods. This study examined the proportion of Colombian products that could be subjected to such regulations.METHODS: Two nutrition profile models were compared: the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) model, and the nutrient profile established under the Chilean food labeling and advertising law (Chilean model). Products (n = 6708) exceeding nutrient criteria based on each model were identified as subject to regulation.
RESULTS: A total of 80.2% (PAHO model) to 66.4% (Chilean model) of foods met the criteria for regulation. The categories with the highest proportion of regulated products were meats (97.3% PAHO model; 87.5% Chilean model), sweets (95.6% PAHO) and snacks (Chilean model). The category with the lowest proportions of regulated products were cereals (47.3% PAHO model) and miscellaneous foods and fish/seafood (39.0% and 39.5%, respectively, Chilean model).
CONCLUSIONS: Under both the PAHO and Chilean nutrient profile models, the majority of packaged foods available in Bogota would be eligible to receive front-of-package warning labels. These results suggest a warning label law could have a major impact on the Colombian food supply, especially in the context of the growing prevalence of diet-related chronic diseases in Colombia.
URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu11051011Reference Type
Journal ArticleYear Published
2019Journal Title
NutrientsAuthor(s)
Mora-Plazas, MercedesGomez, Luis F.
Miles, Donna R.
Parra, Diana C.
Taillie, Lindsey Smith
PMCID
PMC6567873ORCiD
Taillie - 0000-0002-4555-2525Miles - 0000-0001-9490-2096