WASHINGTON, United States (CMC)–A new report by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has highlighted progress in the adoption of front-of-package warning labelling systems for food products in the Region of the Americas, including the Caribbean, and has identified opportunities to strengthen these policies to protect public health.

PAHO said the publication, ‘Best Practices for Front-of-Package Food Labeling in the Region of the Americas,’ analyses regulations currently in place in eight countries and compares them with scientific evidence and PAHO recommendations on how these systems should be designed to be most effective.

According to the report, the region continues to lead the world in the adoption of front-of-package nutritional warning labelling systems, which guide consumers toward healthier purchasing decisions.

The report says these advances also inspire policy innovation and development worldwide, helping to address diet-related diseases and strengthen the protection of healthy diets.

“Warning labels are key to helping consumers easily identify products with excessive amounts of sugars, fats, or sodium and make more informed and healthier purchase decisions,” said Fabio da Silva Gomes, PAHO regional advisor on nutrition and physical activity. “However, much remains to be done for more countries to adopt these policies and for existing systems to be aligned with evidence-based best practices,” he added.

PAHO said noncommunicable diseases—such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and certain types of cancer—are the leading cause of death in the region and are closely linked to unhealthy diets and the high consumption of ultra-processed and processed foods with high levels of sugars, fats, and sodium.

PAHO said front-of-package food labelling is one of several policies that it and the World Health Organization (WHO) promoted to help governments address the rise in noncommunicable diseases associated with unhealthy diets.

In recent years, PAHO said Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Brazil, and Ecuador have adopted front-of-package labelling systems.

The report highlights how regulations in Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico are most aligned with the best practices recommended by PAHO.

These countries are also among the most recent to adopt front-of-package labelling regulations in the region, allowing them to incorporate lessons learned from earlier experiences, the report says.

For example, it says Argentina’s legislation meets 10 of the 11 criteria analysed in the study, which reviewed parameters implemented through June 2024.

PAHO said among the aspects evaluated are the graphic design of warning labels, the nutritional criteria used to determine which products must carry labels, and restrictions on advertising and nutrition claims on packages of products that carry front-of-package labels.

Evidence reviewed by PAHO indicates that octagonal warning labels, which are used by several countries in the region, are the most effective in capturing consumer attention and facilitating the identification of products with excessive levels of sugar, sodium, and saturated fats.

PAHO said front-of-package labelling not only helps consumers make decisions but also facilitates the implementation of other measures to promote healthier food environments. These include restrictions on advertising, regulations on the availability of foods in schools, and fiscal policies targeting unhealthy products.

PAHO said its nutrient profile model is a key tool for identifying products that should carry warning labels and for ensuring that virtually all ultra-processed products are subject to regulation.

PAHO said while the report acknowledges significant progress, it also identifies gaps in some countries, particularly regarding parameters such as the size and placement of warning labels, the nutritional criteria used, and marketing restrictions on product packaging.

Although the report analyses regulations in place through mid-2024, front-of-package warning labelling has continued to expand in the region since it was first introduced by Chile in 2016, PAHO said.

It said, currently, more than 30 countries are evaluating or discussing new regulations to introduce this type of warning on food packages, in line with PAHO’s recommendations and best practices—” reflecting growing momentum both regionally and globally to strengthen policies that promote healthier environments.”