A congressional leader on Friday urged Filipinos to be more conscious of the nutritional value of the food items they buy to ensure a healthy lifestyle.
Deputy Speaker and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar filed House Bill 9344 seeking the mandatory labeling of all pre-packed food products.
Under HB 9344, all pre-packed food products would be required to include a label containing the following information: number of servings or other units of measure per container, the total number of calories derived from any source and derived from the total fat.
It shall also include the amount of the following nutrients in each serving size or other unit of measurement of food: total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates, sugars, dietary fiber, and total protein.
The lawmaker said many packaged food products sold in supermarkets, convenience stores and micro and small stores lack labels to properly inform consumers of the nutritional content of the items.
“This measure is being pushed to promote a healthy lifestyle and support public health initiatives among Filipinos,” she said.
“Although there are rules and regulations being implemented by health and nutrition agencies of the government as regards (to) food labeling to ensure food safety and control, many pre-packed food being sold for retail still lack nutritional value labels.”
Villar added: “Accurate food labeling also promotes transparency as it provides consumers with vital nutritional information of food that they buy. This practice would also ensure their safety and health when it comes to food consumption, as well as possible ingredients which may be potentially toxic to the consumer and safe handling practices for food storage.”
According to a World Bank study in 2021, the Philippines was ranked fifth among countries in the East Asia and Pacific region with the highest prevalence of stunting, and was among the 10 countries in the world with the highest number of stunted children.