Study finds increased use of government-implemented warning labels can help reduce illnesses linked to poor nutrition
RENO, Nevada – Adopting best practices for front-of-package nutrition labeling in more countries in the Americas can help reduce non-communicable diseases (NCDs) linked to poor nutrition such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and certain cancers in the region, suggests a recent study by researchers from the University of Nevada, Reno and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
The study, published today in the Lancet Regional Health Americas, examined the evolution of these policies within the PAHO/World Health Organization Region of the Americas (AMRO).
Improvements to front-of-pack nutrition labeling (FOPNL) included larger warning labels, contrasting background for better visibility, use of “excess” instead of “high in to improve understanding and adoption of the PAHO Nutrient Profile Model to better define nutrient thresholds. . FOPNL systems aim to help people understand the nutritional content of a product, reduce the consumption of ultra-processed and processed food products high in fats, sugars and/or salt, and ultimately help consumers make choices. healthier.
“Advances in front-of-package nutrition labels in the Americas illustrate that the dissemination of best practices in the region has improved the nutritional quality of purchases and has been associated with better diet quality, which in turn is associated with reduced NCD risk,” said Dr. Eric Crosbie, study co-author and associate professor in the University’s School of Public Health.
In the Americas Region, all 35 PAHO Member States have discussed FOPNL, 30 countries have officially introduced FOPNL, eleven have adopted FOPNL, and seven (Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela) have implemented the FOPNL.
“Front-of-package nutrition labels have evolved in the Americas to provide people with the best options,” said Dr. Fabio Da Silva Gomes, study co-author and nutrition and physical activity advisor at the ‘OPS. “The accumulated lessons and evidence have driven countries to achieve regulatory excellence in adopting octagonal warning labels along with the PAHO Nutrient Profile Model to protect and promote healthy diets and public health.”
The study found that the enhanced FOPNL has gradually expanded its presence in the Region, gaining momentum in recent years and evolving to align with PAHO’s best practice evidence and policies. The researchers recommended that governments still discussing and waiting to implement FOPNL should follow these practices to improve uptake and impact of the policy to help reduce non-communicable diseases linked to poor nutrition in Americas.
To read the full study, visit this link. The study is also available in Spanish and Portuguese.
About the University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno is a public research university committed to the promise of a knowledge-powered future. As a Nevada land-grant university founded in 1874, the university enrolls 21,000 students. The University is a comprehensive doctoral university, classified as an R1 institution with very high research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Additionally, he has attained the prestigious “Carnegie Engaged” classification, reflecting his student and institutional impact on civic engagement and service, fostered by extensive community and statewide collaborations. More than $800 million in advanced labs, residence halls, and facilities have been invested on campus since 2009. It is home to the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, and Wolf Pack Athletics, maintains an outreach mission to statewide and a presence through programs such as the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Small Business Development Center, Nevada Seismological Laboratory, and is part of the Nevada higher education system. Through a commitment to improving global research, student success, and outreach to benefit Nevada communities and businesses, the University makes an impact across the state and around the world. For more information, visit www.unr.edu.
About the Pan American Health Organization
PAHO is the specialized health agency of the inter-American system and also serves as the regional office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO), the specialized health agency of the United Nations system. PAHO works with countries throughout the region to improve and protect the health of populations, engaging in technical cooperation with its member countries to combat communicable and noncommunicable diseases and their causes, to strengthen health systems health and to respond to emergencies and disasters. Through its work, PAHO promotes and supports everyone’s right to good health. To advance these goals, PAHO works in partnership with ministries of health and other government agencies, civil society organizations, other international agencies, universities, social security agencies, community groups and other partners. PAHO establishes regional health priorities and mobilizes action to solve health problems that do not respect borders and which, in many cases, compromise the sustainability of health systems. For more information, visit https://www.paho.org/en/who-we-are.
Media Contact
Eric Crosbie
Associate Professor
School of Public Health
University of Nevada, Reno
ecrosbie@unr.edu
Jessica Lozada
Communications Officer
Marketing communications
jfagundes@unr.edu
Nevada Today: www.unr.edu/nevada-today
Luciana Viegas
Public Affairs Advisor
PAHO
mediateam@paho.org
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