Food labeling with the traffic light system has been implemented in Ecuador for eight years and this year it could be subject to updates.
It has been in force since 2014 so that people know what they are consuming according to a colored traffic light: red (high content), yellow (medium) and green (low).
The results that have been obtained, however, have certain questions from the academy.
Manuel Baldeón, professor at the School of Medicine of the International University of Ecuador (UIDE) and one of the researchers of a study on the subject, pointed out that there was a publication in the United States that states that people who consume artificial sweeteners, used as alternatives to sugar, and used in some soft drinks, have a higher risk of obesity and death from cardiometabolic diseases.
He indicated that with the labeling there were people who stopped consuming good foods such as milk and its derivatives, and began to consume drinks that showed a green label.
He assured that when the crude mortality rate is analyzed, after the introduction of the labeling, the tendency of death due to myocardial and cerebral infarctions, diabetes and hypertension does not change.
After five years, product labeling is still not 100% fulfilled in Ecuador
“This measure, which was taken not only in Ecuador but is now spreading throughout Latin America, according to the mortality data, has no beneficial effect in reducing the problem of cardiometabolic diseases,” he said.
He added that people recognized what the lettering meant, but some did not know how they arrived at those colors. In addition, they were guided by factors such as flavor, brand or tradition.
He explained that the crude mortality rate, which is the number of people killed per 100,000 inhabitants in 2010 was 15, in 2014 it was 28, but it continued to grow to approximately 50 before the pandemic.
The study is based on mortality data from the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC).
“The growth trend was not modified,” he added.
Ecuador will maintain food labeling for health
Jadira Morejón, national director of Healthy Eating and Nutrition of the Ministry of Public Health (MSP), pointed out that, in the last 2018 study of the National Health and Nutrition Survey (Ensalud), the use and application of labeling was verified.
He added that 84.3% of the population mentioned that they reduced the consumption of those foods that had a red color.
For Morejón, chronic noncommunicable diseases are multifactorial, so it must be taken into account when carrying out impact studies.
He indicated that there are also factors such as physical inactivity, reduction of traditional diet, low nutritional education, poverty, stress, environment.
The official stressed that there was consumption per capita of 39 liters of soft drinks in 2014, and in 2018 it was 24.
For the specialist, measures adopted such as the labeling were taken without scientific evidence or knowing the effects it could have.
“Not only was it not appropriate, it was not based on scientific evidence, but it harmed people because it increased their risk (…) and also people stopped consuming good food,” Baldeón said in conclusion.
As an example, the doctor referred to yogurt, a product to which he pointed out that sugar is added and has a red label, which is why people do not consume it, but they do drink a soft drink with sweetener and its label is green, thinking that it is good for health.
“The introduction of the traffic light at the time generated changes at the population level, what we need is to continue reinforcing the nutritional education part and continue improving the other factors, which are involved in the appearance of chronic non-communicable diseases,” Morejón opined.
He explained that, for example, there are food guides based on local foods, projects with restaurants for a healthier diet or school meals.
How to read nutritional food labels?
Baldeón proposed consuming food so that the intestinal microbiota has a greater diversity so that the person does not suffer from obesity or hypertension. That, he pointed out, is achieved with education through state and industrial support.
Food labeling, in his opinion, should be reversed and this is what is happening in other nations.
Morejón mentioned that they are reviewing the existing labeling document. In addition, a survey of the scientific evidence of all the existing labels is being carried out and what is the efficiency that they have generated in other countries in order to make a decision on which points are going to be updated. This activity will go until the end of February 2023.
The official mentioned that there is ample scientific evidence of how sweeteners affect adult consumption, and it is necessary that the labels mention that certain products contain these ingredients, which must be complemented with educational campaigns about the harm to health. . (YO)
Source: Eluniverso
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