Health alliance calls on gov’t leaders for a food warning label policy to beat NCDs

MANILA, Philippines — On World Food Day and in time for the Global Week for Action on NCDs, the Healthy Philippines Alliance (HPA), a network of civil society organizations, called on policymakers and legislators to take the lead on enacting a policy for food warning labels as an intervention to mitigate the prevalence of NCDs in the country. The Alliance made the call amid their groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony to formalize its collective commitment to combating NCDs.

The event brought together key policymakers, health professionals, and civil society leaders, including former Department of Health Secretary and HPA Lead Convenor Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, to simultaneously launch the campaign urging for a mandatory food warning label policy to empower Filipino consumers to make healthier choices.

“We are facing an alarming rise in childhood obesity, as well as cardiovascular diseases which are the leading killers in the Philippines. Our unhealthy food environment dominated by ultra- processed foods is failing us. Without proper regulation such as a policy to implement food warning labels, this will continue to contribute to the NCD burden and poor health of our nation. Our policymakers and legislators need to accelerate strategies to mitigate unhealthy diets and NCDs,” said Dr. Galvez Tan.

“This is not just a public health issue; it’s a matter of consumer rights and public policy. Every Filipino deserves access to clear, easy-to-understand information about the food they are consuming. This campaign is about empowering Filipinos to make informed decisions that can prevent life-threatening chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.”

According to the UNICEF, 74% of Filipino children aged 13 to 15 consume fewer than three servings of vegetables daily, while 38% indulge in at least one soft drink every day. At the same time, separate data shows that 7 out of 10 deaths in the Philippines are linked to NCDs.

“Everyone has the right to be informed about what we consume. We deserve to be warned about food ingredients that could potentially harm our health. Food warning labels that disclose the amounts of critical nutrients like sugar, sodium, and fats are essential for making healthy dietary choices and preventing NCDs,” added Alyannah Lagasca, Lead Convenor of the HPA Youth Network.

Currently, only mandatory back-of-pack nutrition facts and voluntary front-of-pack labeling practices exist in the Philippines. However, they ineffectively inform or educate Filipino consumers to make healthier choices. On the other hand, there is growing evidence that show food warning labels, compared to other kinds of front-of-pack labeling schemes, more effectively discourages consumers to purchase unhealthy food or drinks. The HPA says this justifies a mandatory policy that warns consumers about high levels of sugar, sodium, and unhealthy fats in the front packaging of ultra-processed foods.

In the March 2024 Social Weather Stations nationwide survey, 62% of Filipinos said that food warning labels, referring to the black octagonal warning labels, most clearly indicate health risk versus other labeling schemes. While 66% of Filipino say they will support a policy that will implement this.

Latin America has shown us the power of clear food labels. Countries like Chile, Mexico, and Peru have implemented food warning labels, leading to a significant reduction in the consumption of sugary drinks and unhealthy snacks. It’s time for the Philippines to follow suit and empower our people to protect their health.

Healthy Philippines Alliance

Patricia Reyes, Communications Officer +639760085498 / plamangune@gmail.com
Secretariat : healthyphilippinesalliance2018@gmail.com

ImagineLaw

Eloah Valenciano, Communications Officer eloah@imaginelaw.ph
Atty. Mikhail Laurence Millan, Project Manager mikhail@imaginelaw.ph

Secretariat : hello@imaginelaw.ph