The ‘junk food law’ has been a hot topic of debate from different sectors. Recently, the Ministry of Health issued the regulations that would regulate the labeling of ultra-processed foods.
(Read: Standard list for packaged food labeling: This is what it should look like.)
Its aboutto Law 2120 that punctually impacts foods with a high content of sodium, saturated fats and sugar.
The health portfolio explained the parameters regarding the shape, color, size, maximum values, location, legend, proportions and dimensions that should contain the front warning label based on a study conducted by the University of Antioquia.
“More than 1,200 articles published in the scientific literature were collected and a group of 18 articles directly related to the subject of front labeling was specified.“, assured the Minister of Health, Fernando Ruiz.
Initially, the nutritional properties that were approved by the Specialized Room for Food and Beverages of Invima. This means that the regulations apply to ultra-processed foods that exceed the limits established in relation to sodium, sugars, saturated fats, trans fats and sweeteners.
However, the nutrient content limits that determine whether or not the product must bear the warning label are defined by:
These are the properties that foods must have in order to use the label.
Ministry of Health
As for the shape, a controversy arose after the portfolio had proposed a circular figure with the word ‘high’. However, several organizations had argued that scientific evidence had already shown that seals are octagonal and have the words ‘excess (sodium, sugar or fat)’.
That is why the current proposal states that the nutritional characteristics will include seals on the label with an octagonal symbol in the background, black color and white border. Regarding the content, the text must be: “EXCESS IN”, followed by: “SATURATED FATS” and/or “TRANS FATS” and/or “SALT/SODIUM” and/or “SUGARS” and/or “SWEETENERS” in a manner individually or with 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 seals (as appropriate)”, says the decree.
Likewise, “the letters of the text of the stamps must be capital letters and white, ARIAL BOLD font. In addition, in the same symbol, the word ‘Minsalud‘”.
That is why the Ministry showed the different ways in which labels can be organized:
Different ways of putting the labels were determined.
Ministry of Health
“The adhesive must be securely fixed by adhesion, printing, sewing, embossing, screen printing, heat-setting, or other similar means, in such a way as to ensure that it does not come off the product under normal conditions of use, conservation, storage, transport and remain adhered until the moment of its commercialization and useful life”, adds the decree.
Regarding the position of the labels, the regulations establish that the symbols must be located in the upper right third of the frontal face (or main display face) of the products label.
(Also: The requests of small and medium-sized companies to the new government).
For its part, the size of the symbol will be determined by the area of the main display face of the label. In the following way:
Junk Food Labeling
Ministry of Health
Likewise, all the elements (texts and icons) must be centered on the y-axis of the black box as shown in the following image:
These are the dimensions of the label proposed by the Ministry of Health.
Ministry of Health
“It is expected that for the month of December, as stated in the schedule, the definitive act of modification of Resolution 810 will be issued.“, assured the minister.
For now, the decree is subject to change and the outgoing government will leave it signed before August 7, when Iván Duque’s mandate ends.
Finally, as soon as the measure begins to take effect, a period of six tables will be given for the producers, importers and marketers of packaged foods to implement the labels on the products.
BRIEFCASE
