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College of Nutritionists: sale of formulas without octagons is incongruous

College of Nutritionists: sale of formulas without octagons is incongruous

The Government of Dina Boluarte has until today to object to the rule that would allow baby formulas and other similar supplements, aimed at vulnerable populations, to be marketed without the presence of octagons. Various public and private institutions are requesting with a single voice that its progress be stopped as they consider it detrimental to public health and benefit business interests.

incongruous formula

The College of Nutritionists of Peru (CNP) has pointed out to this newspaper that the proposal of Congress is “incoherent and incongruous.” In addition, they specified that at the time the Legislature did not request their technical opinion.

Various studies indicate that if formulas are consumed from an early age, they are associated with overweight and obesity (…), this is reflected in the results of the lNEI, where obesity in children under 5 years of age has increased from 8.6% to 9.1% from 2018 to 2022″, explained the dean of the CNP, Maritza Zela.

  Congress approves a law that excludes the placement of octagons for baby formulas.  Photo: diffusion

Congress approves a law that excludes the placement of octagons for baby formulas. Photo: diffusion

They added that these products, due to their characteristics, are considered ultra-processed foods, which means that they are made mostly or totally from derived substances and other organic sources; And according to a 2020 study, they carry higher amounts of sugar than soft drinks.

For its part, the Peruvian Association of Consumers and Users (Aspec) described the proposal as disastrous because it directly harms the vulnerable population such as you drink

This is a harmful law, clearly designed to favor certain business groups to the detriment of the rights to information and health of millions of infants”, he highlighted.

health threat

In 2021 the Supreme Court ruled in favor of foods substitutes for breast milk carrying warnings and ordered the Ministry of Health (Minsa) to regulate the octagons on these products, in accordance with the healthy eating law (30021).

In July 2022, the Minsa published a draft decree to amend the previously distorted regulation, but so far it has not been applied. That is where the legislators Elva Julón and Rosio Torres, from Alianza para el Progreso, appear to once again tip the balance in favor of the industries with their bills.

In light of the warning from various specialists, Susel Paredes (Integrity and Development) stated that it was a mistake to vote in favor of this rule.

The application of octagons must not have exceptions. In line with what was pointed out by Dr. Elmer Huerta and Jaime Delgado, omitting this visible warning is hiding a terrible threat to the health of children and vulnerable populations,” he tweeted.

If the Executive does not pronounce, Congress will have a free letter to publish the norm in the following days.

“The judgment of the Supreme Court must be complied with”

Yesterday the Ombudsman’s Office joined the campaign against the autograph of the law on food for special diets for vulnerable populations, urging the president to observe it.

“He Executive power has the obligation to guarantee that all processed foods, including those in special diets, contain advertising warnings, complying with the Healthy Eating Law and Supreme Court ruling,” they said in a tweet.

Along these lines, a group of nutritionists, pediatricians and breastfeeding specialists circulated a video on networks demanding “clear information for healthy eating and octagons on each can of formula”.

The word

Maritza Zela, Dean of the CNP

“The octagons are mandatory and their application in the formulas will allow the population to make informed decisions regarding the food they eat, promoting the intake of healthy foods.”

Source: Larepublica

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