Chile Law to Introduce Warning Statements on HFSS Foods

EAS Regulatory Affairs Manager Ainhoa Larrañaga said that when it becomes law mandatory warning statements such as ‘high in…’ will be required in the labelling of HFSS foods.

14 June 2012 --- Chile’s draft law on nutritional composition and advertising approved in May will be the first in the world to set warning statements on foods high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS foods), international regulatory expert has said.

EAS Regulatory Affairs Manager Ainhoa Larrañaga said that when it becomes law mandatory warning statements such as ‘high in…’ will be required in the labelling of HFSS foods.

Larrañaga also highlighted that the legislation has also expanded the list of mandatory nutrition labelling to include saturated fats and sugars alongside the energy, protein, carbohydrate and sodium content.

She added that the country’s Ministry of Health is discussing nutrient profiles to define these foods, with different nutrient thresholds applying to categories of foods, and that the values that categorise foods high in fat, sugar and salt could be confirmed this month.

“Although worldwide some countries such as Singapore, South Korea, Thailand or countries of the European Union are applying new rules on nutrition labelling be they voluntary or mandatory, Chile will be the first in the region and the world to make warning statements on food labels mandatory,” Larrañaga said. “Already in Peru a draft law which will make warning statements on HFSS foods mandatory is being discussed. So it will be interesting therefore to see the impact of this law in Chile when implemented and across the Latin American region.”