Manufacturers of soft drinks and other ready-to-drink products may not readily welcome them but health warnings on the labels of such products give consumers an option on their food choices, and hopefully help them steer clear of the risks posed by sweetened-sugar beverages.
The Trade Department is requiring manufacturers of sugar-sweetened drinks to include health warnings on their front labels starting next month after President Rodrigo Duterte cautioned against the high levels of sugar in beverages and their accompanying health risks, such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. The Philippines is fourth in Asia in terms of prevalence of obesity cases.
The health warnings are certain to dampen the sales of beverages with high-sugar content. Beverage manufacturers have already complained about lower sales this year, following the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law, which imposed an excise tax of P6 per liter on drinks with caloric or non-caloric sweetener and P12 on drinks with high-fructose corn syrup.
The warnings on labels, however, aim to promote healthy eating habits and raise public awareness about the harms of sweetened-sugar beverages. Like the excise tax on drinks, the warnings will discourage consumption and hopefully promote healthy eating habits.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the initial list of drinks would cover more products, aside from ready-to-drink, powdered drinks, concentrates and energy drinks. Even beverage sold in coffee shops could be subject to the labeling requirement.
Health warnings on labels, such as those on cigarettes and liquor, should succeed in cutting down the consumption of “unhealthy” products and make the population healthier. The budget of the Health department is already stretched in providing health care to millions of Filipinos. Philippine Health Insurance Corp., for one, noted that majority of Filipinos with obesity and diabetes are poor and have little access to prevention.
A healthier population, meanwhile, will ease the budget burden and increase the country’s economic productivity.
