Recent changes in food labelling regulations in Latin America: the cases of Chile and Peru

SECO Working Paper 4/2017 by Sofia Boza, Monica Guerrero, Rocio Barreda and Macarena Espinoza
ABSTRACT: In Latin American countries, economic growth has been reflected in a generalized change of eating patterns, transforming in a few decades from high rates of under-nutrition to frequent obesity problems in the population. This overweight crisis raises the propensity of suffering important health issues. Changes in food labelling regulations, with the aim of giving the consumer more information, have been part of the proposed strategy to fight against this overweight problem in some Latin American countries. The objective of this paper is to present Chilean and Peruvian food labeling regulations, as well as the review of the evolution hitherto of their discussion within national industry and especially multilateral trade forums.