• Examples of food pack warning labels being implemented in different parts of the world. According to an SWS survey, the majority of Filipinos support the implementation of food warning labels — or the black octagonal warning labels scheme currently implemented in Latin America — as the most effective at communicating health risks versus other labeling schemes. –INFOGRAPHIC FROM HPA

Filipino parents and other household decision-makers favor warning labels placed on the front of food packaging rather than at the back, as these help them better understand nutritional information and make informed food purchases.

The parents-consumers said front-of-packaging labels are the easiest way to identify food they should avoid, based on the series of focus group discussions (FGDs) in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao conducted by public interest law organization ImagineLaw.

“The FGDs show that consumers need accessible and straightforward information when it comes to food,” ImagineLaw executive director Sophia San Luis said on Tuesday.

During the FGDs, the participants were presented with pre-packaged food products that only have the current back-of-pack nutrition labeling, as well as products that have FOPLs.

The country currently implements a mandatory back-of-pack label on pre-packaged food products, including a complete list of ingredients, allergen information and a nutrition facts table in compliance with the Department of Health’s Administrative Order No. 2014-030.

Endorsement logos, particularly the “Sangkap Pinoy Seal,” are also implemented to identify food products fortified with iodine, iron and Vitamin A.

Clear, accessible food info

When asked about the readability of current nutrition labels, many FGD participants admitted they only understand them when making a conscious effort to do so.

They typically focused on the price and expiration date when choosing food products. When they attempt to read the back labels, they struggle to determine whether nutrient levels exceed the recommended daily intake.

“This proves that the current nutrition labeling does not work. We need FOPL as an intervention to provide clear and accessible food information for all,” San Luis said.

The FOPLs were preferred by the participants “due to its direct messaging and ease of understanding.”

They said that by warning them of the potential health harms of food products, the labels would help them quickly decide whether to buy them.

Informed decisions

The result of the FGDs matched the findings from a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey last year, revealing that 66 percent of Filipinos will support a policy implementing food warning labels for pre-packaged and ultra-processed food and beverage products.

“Filipinos are calling for food labels to protect their families’ health,” San Luis noted. “There is a demand from actual consumers for the passage of the Front-of-Pack Warning Label law to help them make informed decisions for their loved ones.”

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Several bills in Congress are pending proposing front-of-pack warning labels, including House Bill Nos. 9819, 10198 and 10244.

In an earlier press conference, Samar Rep. Reynolds Michael Tan, principal author of House Bill No. 9819,  stressed the urgency to pass the bill to “ensure that Filipinos are empowered to protect their families and children from diseases.”

HB 9819 seeks to mandate front-of-pack warning labeling (FOPWL) on pre-packaged food products to help consumers quickly identify food high in fats, salt and sugar. This will guide them to avoid products that may be harmful to their health easily.

The policy also aims to promote responsible food marketing by introducing regulations on child-targeted advertisements that promote food with warning labels.

The United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization have urged countries to enforce food labeling policies to reduce the prevalence and incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as hypertension and cancers.

NCDs such as heart diseases, cancers and stroke were the top three causes of death in the country last year, based on the latest report by the Philippine Statistics Authority.