Madam

I have read with considerable interest the original research paper by Freire et al. regarding the Ecuadorian experience using the traffic light food labelling system⁽ Reference Freire, Waters and Rivas-Mariño ^{1 )}. It is well known that Latin America has experienced nutritional transitions that have influenced the increased prevalence of overweight and obesity⁽ Reference Rivera, de Cossío and Pedraza ^{2 )}. However, the progress of nutritional labelling − especially front-of-package (FOP) labelling, as a tool to fight these diseases − has been slow⁽ Reference Storcksdieck Genannt Bonsmann and Wills ^{3 )}. The discussion in Latin America is open, and some countries, like Ecuador, have already launched the development, implementation and monitoring of FOP initiatives⁽ Reference Freire, Waters and Rivas-Mariño ^{1 )}. On the other hand, other countries are still in disadvantage, like Venezuela or Peru, where even the declaration of a nutritional label is still voluntary^{( 4 )}.

Motivated by Freire et al.’s paper, I have summarized the local scene on healthy eating and FOP labelling policies in ten Latin American countries (Table 1). All of them have healthy eating laws or regulations. Only four countries (Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador and Mexico) have established formal guidelines for FOP labelling under the scope of laws promoting healthy eating. Ecuador and Bolivia have adopted the traffic light system, Mexico and Peru the Guideline Daily Amount system, and Chile its own system based on a hexagon-warning label. Peru is the only one that has FOP guidelines, but the declaration of them is still voluntary. I found no information on FOP labelling regulations for the other countries.

Table 1

Overview of front-of-package (FOP) labelling status in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela

The Ecuadorian experience deserves special recognition due to the progress made so far and for the evidence collected about the contribution of FOP labelling in lowering the consumption of ultra-processed foods with high levels of fat, sugar and salt⁽ Reference Freire, Waters and Rivas-Mariño ^{1 )}. It is the concern of every Latin American country to set policies that include the FOP labelling topic. Countries could even discuss the creation or adoption of one unique model for the entire region, in order to reduce the inconsistencies between labelling requirements⁽ Reference Storcksdieck Genannt Bonsmann and Wills ^{3 , 5 )} and trade barriers^{( 6 )}.

However, future research considering the potential role of different FOP systems in the behaviour, comprehension and purchase practices in Latin American countries is needed, especially in nutritionally at-risk populations⁽ Reference Ducrot, Méjean and Julia ^{7 )}. Encouraging the early implementation and regulation of these labelling systems can definitely contribute to decrease overweight and obesity rates⁽ Reference Storcksdieck Genannt Bonsmann and Wills ^{3 )}.