#DapatMayLabel: Why nutrient warnings matter

Warning labels can be helpful not only to those with health concerns but also to the general public, encouraging them to be mindful of their sugar, sodium, and cholesterol intake.

In an interview with the DAILY TRIBUNE, Jo Sebastian, a registered nutritionist and dietitian, explained that a food warning label usually provides information about the food product and warns consumers about nutrients that may require more attention.

“This is important because not everyone knows how to interpret nutrition facts in the nutrition information panel of our food products, so they have these notes or these signs in front (that) can give a warning or information (which are) easy to understand (for the) consumers,” Sebastian said.

“Especially if they have health concerns [or] want to be mindful of sugar or sodium, cholesterol, and so on, these signs can be helpful,” the vlogger-dietitian who currently has over four million followers on TikTok, added.

Food warning labels are one type of front-of-pack label that is put on food and drink products that exceed thresholds for various risk nutrients, such as sugar, sodium, trans fat, and saturated fat.

Some Latin American countries, including Puerto Rico, Chile and Mexico, are implementing this measure.

In the Philippines, however, there are no regulations on food and drink products in the market aside from nutritional facts.

Senate Bill 2700, also known as the Healthy Food Marketing Environment Act, was introduced in the Senate earlier this year. However, it has been pending in the Health and Demography Committee since then.

Meanwhile, the counterpart bill in the House of Representatives is still awaiting a hearing before the Committee on Trade and Industry.

For Sebastian, having a clear measure of our food products and beverages could have positive impacts on consumers, as it would increase their awareness.

“They will be more easily aware of what’s in their food products, even if they cannot read the nutritional facts,” she continued.

“Essentially, it will increase the behavioral nudges to show and maybe cause small but meaningful impacts, even if that’s buying a little less of the high-sodium food, one can buy less of a high-sodium food or anything like that,” she added.