Introduction:

study assessing the potential impact of introducing interpretive front-of-pack labelling in foods targeted to children children in Spain.

Methods:

a descriptive study was carried out on a sample of 19 food products advertised on the leading children's television network in Spain that features advertisements. The analysis applied the NutriScore and nutrient-specific warning label systems based on the nutrition information and nutrition and health claims featured in the packaging of these products in 2018.

Results:

of the foods included in the sample, 94.7% received scores corresponding to the bottom three NutriScore categories (C, D, E), and 78.9% at least one Warning Label. Nutrition claims were featured on the packaging of 52.6% of these products, of which 90% scored in 1 of the 2 lowest NutriScore grades (D, E) and 80% would receive at least one Warning Label.

Conclusions:

the introduction of interpretive front-of-pack labelling for food products could be a valuable public health intervention in Spain, helping identify unhealthy foods that target children and curb childhood obesity.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )