Americas lead the way on food warning labels

Mar 13, 2026 News

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— but new PAHO report says stronger policies are still needed

(Kaieteur News) – A new report from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) highlights growing momentum across the Americas to adopt front-of-package warning labels on food products—an important step toward helping consumers make healthier choices.

The report also identifies key gaps and opportunities for governments to strengthen these policies and better protect public health.

The publication, “Best Practices for Front-of-Package Food Labeling in the Region of the Americas,” analyses regulations currently in place in eight countries and compares them with scientific evidence and PAHO recommendations on how these systems should be designed to be most effective.

According to the report, the Region continues to lead the world in the adoption of front-of-package nutritional warning labeling systems, which guide consumers toward healthier purchasing decisions. These advances also inspire policy innovation and development worldwide, helping to address diet-related diseases and strengthen the protection of healthy diets.

“Warning labels are key to helping consumers easily identify products with excessive amounts of sugars, fats, or sodium and make more informed and healthier purchasing decisions,” said Fabio da Silva Gomes, PAHO Regional Advisor on Nutrition and Physical Activity. “However, much remains to be done for more countries to adopt these policies and for existing systems to be aligned with evidence-based best practices,” he added.

Noncommunicable diseases—such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and certain types of cancer—are the leading cause of death in the Region and are closely linked to unhealthy diets and the high consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods with high levels of sugars, fats, and sodium. Front-of-package food labeling is one of several policies promoted by PAHO and the World Health Organization (WHO) to help governments address the rise in noncommunicable diseases associated with unhealthy diets.

Progress in the Region

In recent years, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Brazil, and Ecuador have adopted front-of-package labeling systems.  The report highlights how regulations in Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico are most aligned with the best practices recommended by PAHO. These countries are also among the most recent to adopt front-of-package labeling regulations in the Region, allowing them to incorporate lessons learned from earlier experiences. For example, Argentina’s legislation meets 10 of the 11 criteria analysed in the study, which reviewed parameters implemented through June 2024.

Among the aspects evaluated are the graphic design of warning labels, the nutritional criteria used to determine which products must carry labels, and restrictions on advertising and nutrition claims on packages of products that carry warning labels.

Evidence reviewed by PAHO indicates that octagonal warning labels, which are used by several countries in the Region, are the most effective in capturing consumer attention and facilitating the identification of products with high levels of sugar, sodium, and saturated fats.

Opportunities to strengthen policies

Front-of-package labeling not only helps consumers make decisions but also facilitates the implementation of other measures to promote healthier food environments. These include restrictions on advertising directed at children, regulations on the availability of foods in schools, and fiscal policies targeting unhealthy products.  The PAHO Nutrient Profile Model is a key tool for identifying products that should carry warning labels and for ensuring that ultra-processed foods with excessive levels of nutrients of concern are subject to regulation.

While the report acknowledges significant progress, it also identifies gaps in some countries, particularly in areas such as the size and placement of warning labels, the nutritional criteria used, and marketing restrictions on product packaging. Although the report analyzes regulations in place through mid-2024, front-of-package warning labeling has continued to expand in the Region since it was first introduced by Chile in 2016. Currently, more than 30 countries are evaluating or discussing new regulations to introduce this type of warning on food packaging, in line with PAHO’s best practices and recommendations—reflecting growing momentum both regionally and globally to strengthen policies that promote healthier environments.

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• Americas, Food Labeling, food warning labels, PAHO

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