2024-08-19
Touring whereas residing with diabetes might be fairly worrying, particularly when you’re confronted with new meals and varieties of vitamin labeling. Right here, we go over some issues that it is best to take into accout about carb counting and the front-labeling system carried out in a number of Latin American international locations. We hope that this data is helpful in your subsequent journey, helps you make higher decisions regarding meals, and helps you study some extra about understanding vitamin labels in Latin America
Carb Counting in Latin America
Meals labeling in Latin America is crucial for carb counting however can differ between international locations. A number of international locations within the area have guides that present the dietary composition of meals:
Due to this, a standard meals, akin to white bread, is described with a barely totally different method to carb counting within the Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and Mexico guides:
In Brazil: A 100-g serving of white bread incorporates roughly 50 g of carbohydrates.
In Colombia: In accordance with the Tabla de Composición de Alimentos Colombianos, 100 g of white bread comprise round 55 g of carbohydrates.
In Chile: The Chilean information signifies that 100-g of white bread comprise round 63 g of carbohydrates.
In Mexico: In Mexico, 100-g of white bread comprise roughly 53 g of carbohydrates.
In actuality, meals labels can differ in carb content material from nation to nation because of variations in how they’re measured or described. You may study extra about the way to learn a label right here.
A Information to Understanding the Frontal Seal System
Between 2016 and 2024, international locations akin to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela have utilized a frontal seal system, aiming to deal with the growing chubby and weight problems of their populations.
Entrance labeling goals to scale back the consumption of processed meals by presenting seen, clear, massive, and impactful seals that warn about “EXCESS” of “energy,” “sugars,” “sodium,” “fat,” “trans fat,” and/or “saturated fat.”
The values considered have been obtained from the Pan American Well being Group and the World Well being Group.
At present, these are the factors for stamp placement in Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, and Mexico:
Though, usually, the entrance labeling within the Latin American international locations which have carried out this measure are comparable, they do have some variations. Some examples beneath:
Energy
≥275 kcal
(Besides Peru, which doesn’t have a seal for kcal)
Sugars
≥10% complete
Saturated fat
≥10% complete
(Besides Chile (≥4%)
Fat
≥ 30% complete
Argentina
In 2021, the No. 27,642 legislation was utilized, “Promoción de la alimentación saludable” (“Selling wholesome consuming).” The Argentine authorities carried out octagonal entrance warning labeling. You may determine it as follows:
Brazil
In 2022, Brazil utilized the RDC Ruling No. 429/2020, “Resolução da diretoria colegiada.” Entrance-of-pack vitamin labeling in Latin America and the Caribbean states that merchandise that exceed the boundaries for added sugar, saturated fats, and sodium per 100 milligrams or 100 milliliters should embrace black rectangles with a magnifying glass and the textual content “ALTO EM” (“HIGH IN”).
Venezuela
In 2021, the Ministerio del Poder In style para la Salud (Ministry of In style Energy for Well being) printed Ruling No. 137, beginning the change to entrance labeling that was carried out in 2022.
Mexico
In 2019, Mexico carried out entrance labeling by the NOM-051-SCFI/SSA1-2010 rule.
This labeling’s function is to tell the general public of the crucial quantity of some components that may hurt their well being.
It additionally carried out warnings concerning the content material of caffeine and sweeteners, and about how it isn’t really helpful for youngsters to devour these meals. Yow will discover the totally different warnings indicated as follows:
The Backside Line
Figuring out vitamin labeling and the way it varies in numerous Latin American international locations will allow you to make extra knowledgeable choices whereas touring.
Not solely will you be higher outfitted to depend carbs and handle your diabetes, however additionally, you will have the ability to select more healthy meals with confidence.
By understanding the variations in warning labels, you may alter your decisions based mostly in your each day wants and bodily exercise.
So get able to get pleasure from your meals with peace of thoughts!
References
Pan American Well being Group (2022). La adopción de advertencias nutricionales frente a envases de alimentos puede ayudar [Adopting nutritional warnings on food packaging can help].https://www.paho.org/es/noticias/1-12-2022-adopcion-advertencias-nutricionales-frente-envases-alimentos-puede-ayudar
Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública [National Institute of Public Health] (2023). Estudio sobre el etiquetado y la comprensión en los mexicanos [Study on labeling and understanding in Mexicans]. https://www.insp.mx/avisos/5137-estudio-etiquetado-comprension-mexicanos.html#:~:textual content=Desdepercent202014percent20enpercent20MpercentC3percentA9xicopercent20se,alimentospercent20tuvopercent20unpercent20granpercent20peso
UNICEF (2022). Etiquetado nutricional de advertencia en América Latina y el Caribe [Nutritional warning labeling in Latin America and the Caribbean]. https://www.unicef.org/lac/informes/etiquetado-nutricional-de-advertencia-en-america-latina-y-el-caribe
Pan American Well being Group (2022). La adopción de advertencias nutricionales frente a envases de alimentos puede ayudar [Adopting nutritional warnings on food packaging can help]. https://www.paho.org/es/noticias/1-12-2022-adopcion-advertencias-nutricionales-frente-envases-alimentos-puede-ayudar
Authorities of Argentina (2021). Ley de promoción de alimentación saludable [Healthy Eating Promotion Law]. https://www.argentina.gob.ar/websites/default/information/2021/03/35_-_ley_de_promocion_de_alimentacion_saludable_-_arg._productiva.pdf