Villar bats for proper food labeling

MANILA, Philippines - In a bid to promote health consciousness, Sen. Cynthia Villar is seeking the proper labeling of the nutritional contents of food products.

Villar filed Senate Resolution 146, or the Philippine Nutrition Labeling Act of 2011, where she cited as reason the nutrient deficiency among children and pregnant women.

Villar said it is the state’s policy to ensure that consumers have access to accurate information on the nutritional contents of food products to facilitate value comparison and promote a free market economy.

At present, Villar said there is no existing law requiring manufacturers, packaging firms or distributors to indicate the nutritional value of food products on their labels.

Villar cited the need for consumers to be aware of such information to make well-informed choices, especially if it concerns health issues.

Villar cited Article II, Section 5 of the Constitution which provides that “the State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.”

Under Villar’s proposal, the term “label” means any written, printed or graphic matter affixed to any consumer commodity or affixed to or appearing on a package containing any consumer commodity.

Villar wants the label to identify the commodity and the name and place of business of its manufacturer, packaging firm or distributor.

There should also be a separate label on the product’s nutritional content, the number of servings or other units of measure per container, the total number of calories derived from any source and from total fat.

The label will assist consumers in maintaining healthy dietary practices, according to the resolution.

Villar said her resolution was based on the findings of the Philippine Development Plan (2011-2016) that stunting and wasting among children under five years old are at high levels of 32.2 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively.

Stunting is an indication of prolonged deprivation of food and frequent bouts of infection while wasting is an indication of lack of food or infection in the immediate past. Micro-nutrient deficiencies continue to be a health concern among young children.

The development plan also showed that 26.3 percent of pregnant women are nutritionally at risk.

The resolution seeks to punish people engaged in packaging or labeling of any consumer commodity for distribution if the label does not conform to the provisions of this proposed law.

The prohibition will not apply to wholesale or retail distributors of these commodities.