Evaluation of the nutrition labeling regulations approved in 2020 in Brazil and development of a monitoring system for food and beverage labels

• Grant number: 24/09357-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nutrition
• Principal Investigator: Ana Paula Bortoletto Martins
• Grantee: Carolina Hatsuko Kikuta Batista
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: In 2020, the National Health Surveillance Agency approved regulations to improve the nutritional labeling of foods, Collegiate Board Resolution No. 429 and Normative Instruction No. 75. In addition to updating existing nutritional information, the inclusion of a new element stands out: front-of-pack nutritional labeling to warn of excessive levels of added sugar, sodium and saturated fat in the form of a magnifying glass. Monitoring the implementation of these regulations is essential in order to improve the regulation of foods and beverages sold in Brazil, especially those with an unbalanced nutritional profile that impacts on the health of the population. Objective: To evaluate the implementation of the nutrition labeling regulations approved in 2020 and to develop a proposal for a system to monitor the labels of foods and beverages sold in Brazil. Methods: This is a study that will evaluate the changes to the packaging of foods and beverages on the Brazilian market between 2023 and 2024 based on data obtained from a specialized company. The nutritional profile and list of ingredients on foods and beverages labels will be evaluated, including those that will or will not receive the front-of-pack nutritional labeling and their nutritional quality. The nutritional profile adopted in Brazil will also be compared with other nutrient profiles adopted in other countries in order to verify the adequacy of the Brazilian regulation in terms of its ability to identify ultraprocessed products. Finally, based on a literature review and interviews with key players, international experiences of monitoring food labeling policies will be evaluated in order to lay the foundations for a food labeling monitoring system to be implemented in Brazil.