Food warning labels create opportunity for healthier products – group

A food exhibit showing the nutrient contents using food warning labels. Dianne Sampang/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Food warning labels present an opportunity for businesses to develop new products that will cater to the changing demands of consumers, a public interest law group said on Friday.

According to Atty. Laurence Millan, project manager of ImagineLaw, when more people are knowledgeable about food warning labels, there will be a change in consumer behavior.

“Less demand for unhealthy food and more demand for healthy food. And that would be an opportunity for businesses and corporations because now they can take advantage of the fact of the new demand,” said Millan at a media roundtable in Quezon City.

“’Yung new demand for healthy food (The new demand for healthy food)… They can develop ‘yung new products that can cater to that new demand because of that warning labels,” Millan added.

Millan also shared how other countries have already implemented food warning labels, highlighting how they changed consumer behavior and impacted both consumers and the government.

READ: Heath experts say food warning labels necessary to prevent diseases

“There was a consumer behavior change… Consumers are not the only ones being affected by this but also the government. They are spending less on healthcare because nagkakaroon ng (there’s now a) priority on preventive healthcare,” Millan noted.

Furthermore, Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, lead convenor of Healthy Philippines Alliance and former Department of Health (DOH) chief, echoed Millan’s statements on food warning labels being beneficial for food businesses.

“Ang message natin sa (Our message to) food companies, good food means good health. And therefore with good products, we will have a healthy nation,” Tan pointed out.

The former DOH secretary also said that advocating for food warning labels does not mean they are going against food companies.

“’Di natin sinasabing nilalabanan natin agad; suggested na rin ng countries that are successful in promoting food warning labels, yung company mismo will volunteer to change their formulation or products,” Tan added.

(We’re not saying we’re fighting it outright; in countries that have successfully promoted food warning labels, companies themselves often volunteer to change their formulations or products.)

Health experts on Friday also reiterated the call for the passage of a bill requiring food warning labels to promote a healthy lifestyle among Filipinos, especially children.

They pointed out that such labels will allow consumers to make informed decisions about their food intake.

READ: Why food warning labels matter