Front-of -Package Food Labeling decreased High Sugar Purchases

In Fall 2023, my family and I spent five months in Chile, offering a firsthand view of the impact of front-of package policies on the grocery landscape. Similar to global trends, over the past twenty years, Chilean diet patterns have shifted toward packaged and fast-food consumption.

Recognizing the connection between diet and chronic disease, Chile implemented ambitious food policies. Key measures included increased taxation on sugar-sweetened beverages, front-of-package warning labels, restrictions on child-targeted food marketing, and bans on unhealthy food sales in schools.⁴ In 2016, Chile became the first country to require front-of-package warning labels for foods high in calories, saturated fat, added sugars, and sodium. Outcomes from these measures significantly reduced purchases of sugar-sweetened beverages by nearly 24% within two years and reduced overall purchases of “high in sugar” food and beverage-labeled foods.⁴ Countries throughout South America, Israel, and Canada have followed suit with required front-of-package warning or stop light labeling.⁵ They have all shown improved consumer awareness and changes to diet intake, which has also influenced manufacturers’ food reformulation.

Unintended Consequences – More Non-Caloric Sweeteners

Despite the progress in Chile’s nutrition policy efforts, unintended consequences emerged. To avoid warning labels, food companies reformulated products, especially those “high in sugar.” By 2020, Chile’s total percentage of non-caloric sweeteners increased to be within over 50% of all products.⁶

The FDA is encouraged that its’ proposed front-of-package nutrition labeling system will encourage product reformulation to align with new policies.²  While reformulations can be beneficial, they also raise concerns about continued reliance on low nutrient-density processed food consumption and additives such as non-nutritive sweeteners, which the World Health Organization and the American Diabetes Association discourage.³

It will be important to monitor behavioral purchasing changes along with the long-term health benefits or implications of reformulated products to ensure U.S. new labeling guidance actually achieve healthier dietary patterns.