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. 2019 Jan 25;11(2):268.
doi: 10.3390/nu11020268.

Global Governance of Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling: A Qualitative Analysis

Anne Marie Thow  1 , Alexandra Jones  2 , Carmen Huckel Schneider  3 , Ronald Labonté  4
Affiliations

Global Governance of Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling: A Qualitative Analysis

Anne Marie Thow et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

The Codex Alimentarius has approved ongoing work for international guidance on front-of-pack (FoP) nutrition labelling, which is a core intervention for prevention of diet-related noncommunicable disease. This guidance will have implications for national policy decision-making regarding this important public health issue. However, FoP nutrition labelling is also a trade and commerce policy issue. In this study, we analyze the global governance of FoP nutrition labelling and current policy processes, to inform public health policy and advocacy. We present findings from a qualitative governance and institutional analysis, based on key informant interviews with 28 global actors. The study found that Codex guidance was perceived as likely to have a high impact on FoP nutrition labelling globally. However, a small and highly interconnected "regime complex" of international institutions surrounds FoP nutrition labelling at the global level, and influence on Codex discussions is being exerted differentially by actors at the national and global level, particularly by government and industry actors. There are thus risks associated with conflicts of interests in the development of global guidance on FoP nutrition labelling. There are also opportunities for more strategic and coordinated public health engagement.

Keywords: codex; noncommunicable disease prevention; nutrition labelling; policy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Summary of institutional relationships relevant to FoP nutrition labelling. Abbreviations: WTO–World Trade Organization, WHO–World Health Organization, FAO–Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, eWG–electronic Working Group, FoP–Front of Pack.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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