Análisis del etiquetado de confitería y dulces expendidos en los supermercados de la ciudad de Cuenca

Abstract

The food industry uses nutrient claims, health claims, offers, and the use of promotional characters as marketing strategies. The inclusion of these strategies can affect the purchasing patterns of children and teenagers, becoming a public health issue by influencing childhood obesity. The present study evaluated compliance with the Ecuadorian policies that regulate nutritional labeling (INEN NTE 1334-1, 2 and 3; INEN RTE 022). This study also aimed to identify the proportion of health/nutrient claims and promotional strategies mostly used in sweet snacks sold in Cuenca, Ecuador according to the INFORMAS protocol. The data was obtained from 284 sweet snacks, within 11 different categories, purchased in a representative supermarket in Cuenca. A standardized photographic database was developed and used to fill out a form in the KoboKollect application, then analyzed in Excel. The general results were: NTE 1334-1 on basic labeling requirements was fully met. NTE 1334-2 on the mandatory nutrients was not reported on all products. RTE-022 was complied in most cases and there was a high percentage of “HIGH IN…” sugar and fat. The declarations were analyzed according to the INFORMAS protocol since NTE 1334- 3 lacks depth, such as not taking into account the “Environmental declarations” and “Other declarations related to health”. The most used advertising strategies were the use of the company's own characters, web pages, and recognitions or awards. The main problem found was that the current policies aren’t as rigorous as policies that have been demonstrated effective in other countries. Ecuador implements the mandatory use of the nutritional traffic light in its label, but it has not proven to be effective to lower the consume of ultra processed foods like the case of the warning symbols. Ecuador needs new and strict policies to regulate the marketing strategies that influence the health of Ecuadorian children and teens.