Changes in the nutrient composition of top-selling packaged foods and beverages in Colombia between 2016 to 2021
IntroductionIn 2022, the Colombian government approved a law requiring by 2024 the use of Front of Package octagonal warning labels in food products with an excess of nutrients of concern for chronic disease, including sodium, sugar, saturated fat, and trans-fat, as well as non-nutritive sweeteners...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1534195/full |
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| author | Luis Carlos Forero Luis F. Gómez Mercedes Mora-Plazas María Parra-Murillo María Parra-Murillo Sara Toquica Lindsey Smith Taillie |
| author_facet | Luis Carlos Forero Luis F. Gómez Mercedes Mora-Plazas María Parra-Murillo María Parra-Murillo Sara Toquica Lindsey Smith Taillie |
| author_sort | Luis Carlos Forero |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionIn 2022, the Colombian government approved a law requiring by 2024 the use of Front of Package octagonal warning labels in food products with an excess of nutrients of concern for chronic disease, including sodium, sugar, saturated fat, and trans-fat, as well as non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS). In addition, the government began 2023 by applying a 10% tax on sugar-sweetened beverages and foods that also had warning labels for sodium, sugar and saturated fat. This tax increased to 15% in 2024 and to $20% in 2025. While a previous study examined the changes in the nutritional composition of beverage and food products offered in Colombia between 2016 and 2018, it is necessary to update this information to understand whether the industry anticipated labeling and tax regulations by reformulating products.MethodsThis study carried out a comparison of the content of selected nutrients of concern and non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) from the nutritional panels of 164 matched pairs of packaged foods and beverages from the top selling brands in Colombia in 2021 compared to 2016. McNemar’s test for paired data was used to evaluate changes in the proportion of each of the critical nutrients and NNS to be regulated.ResultsThere were no significant changes in sodium, saturated fat, trans fat, or free sugar in foods or beverages prior to policy implementation. However, there was a significant increase in the presence of NNS in beverages, during this pre-policy period from 32 to 59%.ConclusionThese findings suggest that changes in nutrient composition of packaged foods and beverages had been marginal before the implementation of the tax and warning labeling laws. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ea333f47835640c4aa3a4a6a99d33aef |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-861X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj-art-ea333f47835640c4aa3a4a6a99d33aef2025-02-11T05:10:26ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2025-02-011210.3389/fnut.2025.15341951534195Changes in the nutrient composition of top-selling packaged foods and beverages in Colombia between 2016 to 2021Luis Carlos Forero0Luis F. Gómez1Mercedes Mora-Plazas2María Parra-Murillo3María Parra-Murillo4Sara Toquica5Lindsey Smith Taillie6Departamento de Nutrición Humana, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, ColombiaFacultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá, ColombiaDepartamento de Nutrición Humana, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, ColombiaFacultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá, ColombiaDepartment of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United StatesUniversidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, ColombiaDepartment of Nutrition, Gillings School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United StatesIntroductionIn 2022, the Colombian government approved a law requiring by 2024 the use of Front of Package octagonal warning labels in food products with an excess of nutrients of concern for chronic disease, including sodium, sugar, saturated fat, and trans-fat, as well as non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS). In addition, the government began 2023 by applying a 10% tax on sugar-sweetened beverages and foods that also had warning labels for sodium, sugar and saturated fat. This tax increased to 15% in 2024 and to $20% in 2025. While a previous study examined the changes in the nutritional composition of beverage and food products offered in Colombia between 2016 and 2018, it is necessary to update this information to understand whether the industry anticipated labeling and tax regulations by reformulating products.MethodsThis study carried out a comparison of the content of selected nutrients of concern and non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) from the nutritional panels of 164 matched pairs of packaged foods and beverages from the top selling brands in Colombia in 2021 compared to 2016. McNemar’s test for paired data was used to evaluate changes in the proportion of each of the critical nutrients and NNS to be regulated.ResultsThere were no significant changes in sodium, saturated fat, trans fat, or free sugar in foods or beverages prior to policy implementation. However, there was a significant increase in the presence of NNS in beverages, during this pre-policy period from 32 to 59%.ConclusionThese findings suggest that changes in nutrient composition of packaged foods and beverages had been marginal before the implementation of the tax and warning labeling laws.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1534195/fullnoncommunicable disease preventionLatin Americafood policyfood labelingfood supplyColombia |
| spellingShingle | Luis Carlos Forero Luis F. Gómez Mercedes Mora-Plazas María Parra-Murillo María Parra-Murillo Sara Toquica Lindsey Smith Taillie Changes in the nutrient composition of top-selling packaged foods and beverages in Colombia between 2016 to 2021 Frontiers in Nutrition noncommunicable disease prevention Latin America food policy food labeling food supply Colombia |
| title | Changes in the nutrient composition of top-selling packaged foods and beverages in Colombia between 2016 to 2021 |
| title_full | Changes in the nutrient composition of top-selling packaged foods and beverages in Colombia between 2016 to 2021 |
| title_fullStr | Changes in the nutrient composition of top-selling packaged foods and beverages in Colombia between 2016 to 2021 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in the nutrient composition of top-selling packaged foods and beverages in Colombia between 2016 to 2021 |
| title_short | Changes in the nutrient composition of top-selling packaged foods and beverages in Colombia between 2016 to 2021 |
| title_sort | changes in the nutrient composition of top selling packaged foods and beverages in colombia between 2016 to 2021 |
| topic | noncommunicable disease prevention Latin America food policy food labeling food supply Colombia |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1534195/full |
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