In observance of World Food Day and the Global Week for Action on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), the Healthy Philippines Alliance (HPA) urged lawmakers to enact a mandatory food warning label policy to help address rising cases of NCDs in the country.
The HPA renewed its commitment to push for this initiative by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Wednesday, October 16. Policymakers and health professionals, including former Health Secretary and HPA lead convenor Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, attended the ceremony.
The organization underscored the need for mandatory food labels to empower Filipinos to make healthier choices. Galvez-Tan emphasized the growing threat of NCDs, which account for 7 out of 10 deaths in the country.
The HPA also cited UNICEF data that showed 74 percent of Filipino adolescents consume inadequate vegetables, while 38 percent drink sugary sodas daily, contributing to the rise in NCDs.
“If we do not do anything now, we will suffer in the future. The grim truth is that NCDs drain patients by trapping them in long-term or lifetime treatment,” Galvez-Tan said at the launch of their campaign in Cubao, Quezon City.
“These diseases can hinder Filipinos from being productive members in society and earning a living. The bottom line: NCDs threaten the quality of life of every Filipino. That is why we want to put this issue on center stage,” he added.
The HPA believes that front-of-pack warning labels indicating high sugar, sodium, and unhealthy fat content could deter consumers from unhealthy food choices.
“We demand our policymakers and legislators to have the moral imperative to accelerate implementation of policies that will address the burden of NCDs. We support one of the best solutions, which is food warning labels,” said Galvez-Tan.
A March 2024 survey by Social Weather Stations revealed that 62 percent of Filipinos prefer food warning labels for clear health risks, and 66 percent support policies to implement such measures.
Countries like Chile and Mexico have seen positive health outcomes after adopting food warning labels. The HPA hopes the Philippines will follow suit to reduce obesity and NCD rates through this simple but effective intervention.
The HPA, alongside HealthJustice Philippines and ImagineLaw, plans a mass media campaign to raise awareness about the benefits of food warning labels and further push for government action on this matter.
