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Lawmakers want prescribed nutrition labeling for food products

Legislators are pushing for the mandatory nutrition labeling of food products as

they expressed concern over  the absence of a law requiring manufacturers, packagers, or 

distributors to indicate the nutritional value of food products on their labels.

Reps. Diosdado Arroyo (2nd District, Camarines Sur) and Gloria Macapagal-

Arroyo (2nd District, Pampanga) have filed House Bill 2806 or the

“Nutrition Labeling for Food Products Act of 2013,” which seeks to promote health

consciousness among the public through proper labeling of nutritional contents in food

 products.

Under the bill, the commodity shall bear a label specifying the identity of the

commodity and the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer or distributor.

The measure also provides that a separate label statement of nutritional content shall

appear conspicuously and in easily legible type in distinct contrast by typography, layout,

color, embossing, or molding with the other matter on the package.

The label shall contain the number of servings or other units of measure per container, total number of calories derived from any source and derived from the total fat

and any vitamin, mineral or other nutrient to be placed on the label or labeling of food if it

will assist consumers in maintaining healthy dietary practices.

Arroyo said due to the absence of a law and the deluge of various food products in

the market, there is an urgent need for consumers to be wary of such detail/s to be able to

make well-informed choices especially if it concerns health issues.

“It is the declared policy of the State to ensure that consumers have access toaccurate information as to the nutritional contents of food and food products to facilitate

value comparison and promote a free market economy,” Arroyo stressed.

The measure provides further that the amount of the following nutrients in each

serving size or other unit of measurement of food should contain these: total fat, saturated

fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates, sugars, dietary fiber,

and total protein.

The bill likewise provides that if a food contains insignificant amounts of all the

nutrients required to be listed in the label or labeling of food, as determined by the Bureau

of Food and Drugs (BFAD), the requirements of such shall not apply to such food if its

label, labeling or advertising does not make any claim about the product’s nutritive value.

NR # 3272B

OCT. 30, 2013

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 No packaged commodity shall be distributed or caused to be distributed in

commerce unless it conforms to the regulations set by the proposal once it is enacted into

law and established by the BFAD.

The Department of Health (DOH) with the Bureau of Food and Drugs are mandated

to educate consumers about the availability of nutrition information in the label or labeling

of food and the importance of that information in maintaining healthy dietary practices.

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