The new sanitary rules for food and beverage advertising were already published, before this Alejandro Calvillo, general director of the power of the consumer disqualified the labeling that the products with sugars will carry.
He stressed that it is a labeling that companies developed, without any scientific criteria, "a labeling that we denounced in 2010, the Secretary of Health, at that time (José Ángel) Córdova Villalobos and in 2012 we filed a complaint before Cofepris, mainly pointing out twoaspects ".
He pointed out that these aspects are based on the fight against obesity, so that worldwide, it has been recommended to have those labeled at the head of the products, but that they are not like those that come behind that nobody understands, the nutritional tables.
"But they are very simple to read, and that allow guidance and make healthier choices, this labeling that is based on telling you what is the daily intake recommended for example of sugar, sodium, saturated fats," Calvillo said.
In an interview with Manuel Feregrino in the program "Ciro Gómez Leyva in the morning", he said that for four years he has been pointed out to the Ministry of Health, that the current labeling does not work.
He now said that the present labeling will put Mexico and President Enrique Peña in a very bad place since it shows that sugar is a recommended daily requirement, however, sugar added to products, refined sugar is not recommended by theWorld Health Organization (WHO).
"It is an ingredient that is not advisable to consume, however, this labeling what will be suggesting, is that you are consuming 90 grams of sugar refined to the day."
He stressed that the greatest consumption of sugar we have in Mexico comes from sodas, "this labeling, instead of encouraging you that the sodco has a high sugar content, either with a red labeling, with something that says high in sugar asIn Chile, or as it is being done in the United Kingdom, what is going to tell you is 70 percent of your daily requirement. "
The general director of the consumer power stressed have already been in contact with several international experts, who cannot believe, that in Mexico that labeling is made.
He said that Cofepris is taking "between the feet" to the Ministry of Health and the president itself because the recommendation of the consumption of refined sugar cannot be sustained.
He assured that this labeling is not going to serve, so it would be wasting time and go in the opposite direction in the face of the problem to face such as diabetes and overweight.
Alejandro Calvillo stressed that diabetes in our country is an emergency situation, so the measures to attack them have to be thoroughly.
He stressed that the regulation of food and drinks in schools is being discussed, the technical criteria that come from the Ministry of Health are very good, however, the work is not being complemented.
"This labeling is promoted by companies, first of all by refreshots. It is a labeling that promotes sugar consumption, in a country that we have very high sugar consumption," he said.
He assured that the only thing that has information that can be regulated by the State effectively, is the labeling and is claudicating the interests of the industry and especially the refreshots.
Finally, he stressed that this labeling is unsustainable for what some legal processes are doing to try to prevent it, a situation that will be released at the time.
