International industry criticizes food labeling law

Agencies in Latin America and the United States qualify as 'extremely

demanding' the law that will be implemented in Chile.
by Ximena Bertin

The law will prohibit the sale of high-calorie products in schools.
As "Disproportionate" and "inefficient." In such way representatives of the
international food industry, describe the new law on food labeling, which is
projected to start governing in the country since the middle of next year. The
new regulation, which is under public consultation until October 19, is using
fixed maximum limits for sodium, sugar, fat and calories for solid and liquid
foods. And, further provides that if a product exceeds these limits, it should be
labeled on the front of their packaging with a black symbol similar to the stop
sign including the words "excess" in order to warn the consumer (see graphic
These maximum limits set by the Ministry of Health to reverse the high rates
of obesity - are considered by the industry as "excessive" compared to those
used in other countries.
"These allowed limits are the highest in the world. There is no scientific basis
that these measures will reduce chronic disease and obesity," says Carolina
Lorduy, vice president of the American Alliance of Industry Associations
Food and Beverage (Alaiab), also formed by the Association of Food
Producers of America (GMA).
In their view, the stop sign to be used in Chile is aggressive with the
consumers. Instead, Lorduy proposes using Guideline Daily Amounts (GDA)
labeling which report the amount of nutrients in a product and the maximum
recommended daily intake. This has been implemented voluntarily by the
industry, globally.
For Rocco Renaldi, secretary general of the International Food and Beverage
Alliance (IFBA), which brings together 11 of the leading food brands in the
world, the new rules would set back commitments with WHO.
Renaldi recognizes that there is a global public health problem, as in Chile,
and asserts that the industry is advancing in reformulating their products,
lowering the levels of salt and trans fats in order to respond to the global
WHO strategy.
"One of our strategies is consumer information and in that sense we apply the
global policy that GDA are the recommended daily amounts. We are
committed to implement it on all products globally, but can not do it when
there is a law that does not allow it, "adds Renaldi, who argues that with the
policies implemented in Chile, the GDA shall be eliminated and replaced by
the stop sign and warning "excess" of sodium, sugar, fat or calories. To
Lorduy, the client cannot discriminate between two products with the same
warning. "We believe that it will cause a sense of fear in people, to not
consume it. There is no information about the content of nutrients and just
scares the consumer. This leads to a state of confusion" Lorduy notes, adding
"we all understand in portions, not grams or ml ". Loudry also raised concern
about the impact of this standard on the global food trade "since a label of this
kind can not be taken to another country, because it is not acceptable,
affecting imported products."
RESTRICTION ON ADVERTISING
The new law restricts food advertising "with excess of" gifts and toys. The
sales of these are also prohibited in schools. "There is no direct relationship
between advertising and obesity," is quick to declare Stephan Loerke,
managing director of the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA). However,
he notes that the industry, as it has done in Europe and the USA during the
past nine years, is also willing to reduce exposure of Chilean children to
advertising of foods high in sugar, fat or salt, Loerke said.