A guide to introducing effective front-of-package nutrient labels
As the epidemic on non-communicable diseases including diabetes and heart disease continue to climb worldwide, the need to improve nutrition and address this public health crisis grows more urgent. Evidence shows that implementing front-of-package nutrient labels that clearly identify unhealthy packaged foods high in nutrients like sugar, salt and fat is an effective intervention.
Front-of-package labels on food products are an effective way to communicate important nutrition information to consumers at the time they are making purchase decisions. Several countries have implemented or plan to use these labels to indicate if products are unhealthy and discourage people from purchasing and consuming them.
This document serves as a guideline for governments, researchers, civil society groups and others involved in developing clear front-of-package nutrition labels. It provides a framework to assist countries in adopting this proven, cost-effective, high-impact strategy and outlines key considerations and lessons learned from previous experiences. The underlying objective is for the labeling system to enable consumers to make healthier choices and help combat the growing prevalence of diet related conditions like diabetes and heart disease. global obesity epidemic.
This guideline lays out recommended steps and strategies around research, communication, and label design and development. The focus of this integrated approach is on rigorous research, strong communication strategies, and an inclusive development process to create impactful front-of-package nutrition labels.
The guidebook was produced by Vital Strategies and the University of North Carolina’s Global Food Research Program.