Suzanne Soares-Wynter | We have a right to know what is in our food

Obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are very serious problems in Jamaica. More than a half (54 per cent) of all adults and one in three adolescents are overweight or obese. There are accompanying risks of Type 2 diabetes, cancer, and heart disease, all of which are impacting the population medically, socially and financially. The current global pandemic has further highlighted an increased vulnerability to COVID-19. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) states that persons with these underlying health conditions have a higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease, and are more likely to die from COVID-19.

As we grapple with obesity and high risks of NCDs, Jamaicans have a right to know what is in their foods. While the drivers of the obesity epidemic are complex, unhealthy diet is a known risk factor and one that we must hasten to address. In Jamaica, like the rest of the world, our diets are now dominated by a wide array of local and imported, processed and ultra-processed pre-packaged foods. Recent evidence shows the vast share of products in our retail space contains excess amounts of critical nutrients, especially sugars, sodium and unhealthy fats. Should we as consumers continue to eat blindly, with no regard for our health? And at this critical period during a pandemic? Now more than ever, consumers are desperately in need of guidance to identify and select healthier foods and beverages.

Front-of-package label (FOPL) warnings are a proven strategy for informing consumers of the hidden dangers in foods and beverages. Food labels are generally complicated, and misleading labelling and health claims only serve to confuse consumers further. However, FOPL warnings provide interpretive label information on the front of packages, in an easy-to-understand and easy-to-identify display. Jamaican consumers need this level of transparency when facing the overwhelming variety of processed, packaged foods.

MAJOR OVERHAUL

Jamaica and other CARICOM countries are conducting a major overhaul of the region’s food labelling system. The proposed FOPL ‘stop sign/octagon’ warning symbol is a model supported by a strong evidence base. The collaboration involves various stakeholders, including government, policymakers, food industry, trade, advocacy, consumer and health groups, and academia. Currently, nutritional labelling is neither mandatory nor standardised across the region. The existing label system is archaic, as it does not afford the public a correct presentation of the quality of a food or beverage product. The update process is therefore long overdue and will most certainly play a crucial role in bridging the information and regulatory gaps in our food landscape.

The beneficial impact of FOPL warnings on consumer purchasing intentions and awareness is well documented in the scientific literature. The ‘High in…’, ‘Excessive…’ and other warning terms on labels are gaining popularity globally, and especially in countries where the need for action to reduce or prevent obesity has been recognised. (They are already in place in Chile, Israel, Canada, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela, and are under consideration in Brazil.) Jamaicans deserve the same protection. There cannot be a free-for-all approach when it comes to our health, nor a prioritisation of profits or red-tape inefficiencies over people’s well-being. Strong policies and public health education are needed strategies. Those currently being proposed are guided by science, with proven effectiveness in protecting health and welfare.

HEALTHY THRESHOLD LEVELS

The PAHO Nutrient Profile Model (NPM) helps countries to establish healthy threshold levels for critical nutrients linked with poor health outcomes. Evidence from countries that have adopted similar thresholds (e.g., Chile and Peru) showed that food industry adapted/reformulated their products to reduce these nutrients to avoid warning labels. This has served to:

(1) Improve the product offerings available to the public,

(2) Encourage manufacturers (international and domestic) to be more innovative in their product offerings,

(3) Encourage entrepreneurship, and

(4) Reduced the share of products carrying a warning label. Taking these early steps to adapt have surely placed the leaders ahead of their competitors.

The regional food label standards update is well under way. Some local manufacturers and distributors are already reformulating and providing improved quality food and beverage offerings. For those who do not respond, then a large share of their products are likely to attract warning labels. This would be an indication of the overwhelmingly unhealthy food and beverages being provided to Jamaicans. Efforts must be made to avoid this, particularly when poor nutrition and health have been documented to be linked with COVID-19 mortality.

For clarity, the FOPL warning label is an addition to, and not in place of current standards elsewhere. Warning stickers or tags put on to applicable products should be allowed to accommodate imported products. Additionally, this should not pose any additional costs for export vs domestic sale. Several other food regulations have been readily implemented for imported products in the past (including labels with translations to English, manufacturing details, etc), and FOPL should be no different.

IMPROVE PRODUCT OFFERING

As a CARICOM regional standard, we anticipate FOPL warnings would also apply to regionally produced products. Several countries (UK, EU, Canada) are also applying NPMs to discourage formulations with excess nutrients. Jamaica and the Caribbean region are major target markets and our products are highly rated and sought after globally. Applying FOPL warnings will encourage more manufacturers to improve their product offering and place them at a comparative advantage, ahead of their competition.

It is promising to see discussions about FOPL finally making headway in the public setting. The World Health Organization has long recommended FOPL, as well as reduced sweetened beverage consumption, as key policy action items for reducing the burden of obesity and non-communicable diseases in our region. Those of us concerned about nutrition and health welcome both initiatives.

Front-of-package labelling is positioned as a win-win deal for everyone concerned about Jamaica and Jamaicans. We most certainly have the right to know what is in our food.

Suzanne Soares-Wynter, PhD, is clinical nutritionist at the Caribbean Institute for Health Research, The University of the West Indies. Send feedback to suzanne.soareswynter@uwimona.edu.jm.