Food products sold in the U.S. that contain high levels of unhealthy nutrients should be marked with prominent warning labels on the front of the product packaging, according to an October 1, 2020 JAMA Viewpoint article.
The article was co-authored by Anna Grummon, a postdoctoral fellow in the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Chile, Israel, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay have implemented such requirements to address rising rates of obesity and associated health issues, and there is growing evidence that such labels better inform consumers and help them make healthier choices, according to the authors.
“Given the magnitude of diet-related diseases, no single policy is likely to be the sole answer to solving poor diet and obesity,” the authors wrote. “Instead, multiple interventions across many sectors are needed. Nutrient warnings are an important strategy that should be leveraged as soon as possible.”
Read the JAMA Viewpoint article: Nutrient Warnings on Unhealthy Foods