Media Advisory – Nutrition, Alcohol, and Environmental Impact Labels Should Protect Public Interests, Not Sell Foods that are Harmful to Humans and the Planet,

Six Networks Representing 550 Public Curiosity Teams Inform UN Commonplace Setting Physique at
Virtual Codex meeting September 27-October 7, 2021
hosted just about by the Authorities of Canada

OTTAWA & REMOTE CITIES, Sept. 26, 2021 /CNW/ – Since 2016, a United Nations physique mandated to set requirements for commerce in meals has been negotiating a set of tips for international locations in search of to assist shoppers select nutritious meals and keep away from junk meals with so-called “front-of-pack vitamin labelling (FOPNL)” and is contemplating extra protecting labels to announce dangers for alcohol and environmental influence of meals.

WHAT HAPPENS IN OTTAWA VIRTUALLY: From September 27 to October 7, 2021, the Codex Committee on Meals Labelling (CCFL) will maintain formal negotiations on guiding ideas for the event of Entrance-of-Pack Vitamin Labelling (FOPNL). Roughly 350 representatives from 60+ national governments, dozens of food industry associations, and a handful of officially recognized health and consumer groups are anticipated to convene to considerably advance a course of that started in Could 2016.

WHY THESE NEGOTIATIONS MATTER: Proof-based, versatile Codex requirements can assist nationwide governments to design sturdy FOPNL guidelines which might be protecting of well being. Requirements set by the Codex Committee on Meals Labelling are usually not necessary for nationwide governments, however are presumptive ceiling requirements for shopper safety that international locations can’t exceed with out offering further scientific justification which may not be thought of enough if a buying and selling associate challenged these guidelines.

Unhealthy diets had been estimated to trigger 8 million deaths and waste 188 million disabilities adjusted life years (DALYs) worldwide in 2019, in response to the Institute for Well being Metrics and Analysis’s International Burden of Illness. The World Well being Group estimates that extra alcohol causes 3 million deaths per year. And the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Local weather Change (IPCC) estimates that 21–37% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are attributable to the food system and that climate change will have important negative impacts on food security.

A joint-statement supported by six networks—representing 550 teams worldwide—urges the Committee to develop steering that helps necessary labelling, conflict-of-interest safeguards, public-health innovation by nationwide governments, stopping underserved halo results on meals, environmental influence labelling, and efficient alcohol labelling.

For additional info, see contact info within the full assertion: https://tinyurl.com/foodlabels2021

SOURCE Centre for Well being Science and Regulation (CHSL)