CLAS, as part of the Latin American and Caribbean Nutrition and Health Community of Practice (COLANSA), launches a reference document for policy makers on Front-Front Nutritional Labeling of Foods.
Unhealthy eating habits represent one of the main modifiable risk factors, which have influenced the increase in the prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). What is the solution? Enforce laws and measures that regulate food environments to facilitate healthy food choices and discourage choices of products that contain excessive amounts of critical nutrients and sweeteners. A key instrument is front-end nutritional labeling; that provides more information to the consumer without implying a prohibition or restriction on consumption, or restriction on individual freedoms. On the contrary, it expands and guarantees greater freedom of choice.
This publication, aimed at political decision-makers, is a question and answer document that seeks to provide clarity around the front-end nutritional labeling of foods.
Adequate nutrition is a human right and states must adopt a set of specific public policies to promote healthy eating.
*This document was produced with the support of the International Development Research Center (IDRC)