A bill to require front of pack warning labels (FOPWL) on food products with unsafe levels of ‘nutrients of concern’ is being pushed by a public sector group to tackle rising rates of obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in to control the world. the Philippines.
“The bill aims to reduce the risk of developing obesity, overweight and non-communicable diseases, as well as create a food environment conducive to healthier diets,” Mikhael Laurence C. Millan, project manager of Imagine Law, said in an interview.
The FOPWL law will make it easier for Filipino consumers to identify food products rich in “nutrients of concern,” including sugars, sodium, saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol, Mr. Millan said.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), excessive intake of these nutrients poses several health risks.
It can lead to overweight/obesity and contribute to the development of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and vascular, heart, brain and kidney diseases.
Non-communicable diseases account for 68% of total deaths in the Philippines, the WHO said.
Imagine Law advocates the use of octagonal “stop sign” warnings, which prove to be the most intuitive way to alert consumers when purchasing unhealthy food products.
“If we put information sa harap (in front) in a much simpler way, yung consumers po natin (our consumers), they become more aware of what they eat,” Mr Millan said.
There are currently five bills in support of FOPWL pending, with one Senate bill being referred to the Committee on Public Health.
Meanwhile, four bills are in the House of Representatives awaiting a joint hearing with the Health and Commerce Committees.
By supporting these bills, Mr. Millan believes that all Filipinos can now make more informed, healthier food choices.
“Lahat po ng Pilipino ay magbe-benefit sa bill dahil lahat po tayo ay bumibili ng prepackaged food products (all Filipinos will benefit from the bill because we all buy prepackaged food products),” Mr. Millan said.
“This bill will create a healthy food environment… lahat po tayo kaya ng gumawa ng (we can all) make healthier (and) informed food choices.”
Mr. Millan also believes that the push for the FOPWL law will change the behavior of Filipino consumers, ultimately pushing the food and beverage industry to reformulate their products to a safer nutritional level. – Edg Adrian A. Eva