Chile Tackles Childhood Obesity Crisis with Strict New Food Labeling Rules

29 Jun 2016 --- In an effort to lower the rate of childhood obesity, the health ministry in Chile have announced new food labeling laws. The move is in response to the countries’ highest rates of childhood obesity in the world.

The changes, which are thought to be the strictest of their kind, will see labels placed on the packaging of food and snack items high in saturated fats, sodium, sugar and calories.

Additionally, these types of food items will no be longer allowed to sell in schools, and companies will be forbidden to target children under the age of 14 with advertising. Furthermore, these types of food products will no longer be able to include free toys.

“Chile has been a pioneer in the Latin American region by introducing labeling changes aiming to tackle Non-Communicable Diseases,” Eugenia Muinelo, Manager of Regulatory Affairs for EAS Strategies, told NutritionInsight.

The change comes in the midst of a serious obesity crisis in Chile, where 5 out of every 10 children are thought to be overweight or obese, and 1 in 11 deaths are related to the obesity epidemic.

McDonald’s in Chile has responded to the new rules, reducing the amount of salt, sugar and saturated fat in their popular happy meals in order to meet the new nutritional regulations. This move has allowed them to continue to sell their popular children’s meals accompanied by a free toy.

Other food companies that publicise free toys with their food products, and are unable to meet the new nutritional guidelines will be most affected by the new regulations. Italy's Ferrero Group has threatened to take legal action against Chile in order to protect its chocolate and toy combination product, the Kinder Egg.

Once fully implemented, the law will be the first of its kind that outlines guidelines set out by the World Health Organisation. However, Muinelo confirms the changes were on the cards for a while, “Discussions started before the Pan American Health Organisation (regional WHO office) recommended the implementation of such measures as a tool to prevent and combat Non-Communicable Diseases.”

She adds that these changes have also impacted other countries in South and Central America: “This Chilean model has influenced other countries such as Bolivia, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru, to also adopt front-of-package labeling schemes in order to provide more information to consumers at the time of purchasing processed foods.”

Small businesses will have 36 months to adhere to the new changes, but are expected to start making changes from next week.

by Hannah Gardiner