IDEC Food Labelling

IDEC

Overview

Context: Food labeling in Brazil has long failed to provide clear and accessible information. Research by Idec showed that consumers struggled to understand nutritional content, limiting their ability to make informed choices;
Ambition: To transform labeling into an effective tool for public health and assure the consumer right for information in line with the Brazilian Consumer Defense Code (CDC);
Regulatory context: Food labeling is regulated by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), what means that any changes in these rules impact the entire Brazilian population;
Recommendation: The National Council for Food and Nutrition Security (Consea) recommended revising the labeling regulation to align with the CDC—ensuring clarity, adequacy and transparency;
Food systems perspective: Effective food labeling supports the creation of healthier food environments and contributes to more transparent and equitable food systems.

Key actors

Anvisa and Ministry of Health;
UN system (UNICEF, PAHO/WHO);
Civil society (Idec, the Alliance for Healthy and Adequate Diets, and others);
Academia (UFPR, Nupens/USP, and others);
Brazilian Observatory for Research on Food Labeling (composed by civil society organizations and research groups);
Food industry sector (ABIA, ABIR, ABPA, and others);
Labeling Network (composed by food industry associations);
Brazilian population (through participatory social processes).

Alignment with the EAT-Lancet Commission

Our story aligns, to some extent, with all key dimensions of the 2019 EAT-Lancet Commission. However, it is especially connected to the pillars of healthy diets and food system justice and equity. Food labeling directly influences the food environment, since clear, accessible labels enable better food choices by the consumers.

Since the regulation focuses on packaged foods, it addresses all ultra-processed food products, raising awareness about their health risks. This also reinforces the consumer’s right to information, empowering individuals to make informed choices and protect their health. Progress is tracked through policy adoption, public awareness, and civil society monitoring.

Lessons Learned

The importance of grounding actions in independent, free from conflict of interest scientific evidence. Rather than only reacting defensively to industry arguments and actions, civil society and public institutions focused on proactive, evidence-based proposals. This approach strengthened the legitimacy of the process and helped shift the debate toward public interest. It demonstrated that anticipating industry strategies with well-supported, transparent actions can be more effective than merely responding to pressure or misinformation.

Next steps

Ensure proper implementation of the regulation and prevent any setback;
Monitor the implementation of the norm and demand active enforcement by the National Sanitary Surveillance System (SNVS);
Advocate for further improvements to the regulation—such as revising the nutrient profile model, so that the front-of-package nutrition labeling applies to more products;
Engage civil society to remain vigilant and active on the issue, while strengthening collaboration with academia to support and legitimize future actions.

For more information contact: Samanta Fabbris at samanta.fabbris@idec.org.br

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