Restrict advertising of ultra-processed foods on TikTok and YouTube: Bill reviewed
The new bill seeks to label ultra-processed foods and restrict their advertising, especially on social networks, to protect the health of minors and confront the high prevalence of obesity and chronic diseases in Chile.
In order to protect the health of Chileans, a new bill promoted by senators seeks to label and restrict the advertising of ultra-processed foods, especially targeting those who are most exposed: minors.
The initiative proposes significant changes to the Law on Nutritional Composition of Foods (Law 20,606) and will be discussed in the Senate Health Commission.
The project’s promoters recognize the achievements of the 2016 labeling law, which marked a milestone by requiring warning seals on products high in sugar, fat and sodium.
According to studies, this measure has helped reduce the consumption of products high in sugar by 9% and those with high calories by 7%.
However, the current project focuses on ultra-processed products, those with more than five chemical or industrial ingredients, which present greater health risks due to their low nutritional value and high calorie content.
Among the diseases associated with the consumption of these products, The project mentions obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, all of which are at critical levels in Chile..
The figures of Ministry of Health reflect that a worrying 53% of Chilean schoolchildren are overweight or obesein part due to increasing exposure to ultra-processed foods and advertising aimed at children.
In addition to establishing the “ultraprocessed” labeling, The project aims to restrict advertising aimed at minors on digital platforms such as TikTok and YouTube.
The senators propose that this type of advertising be specifically prohibited on these networksadapting the regulation to cover the media with the greatest impact on the child population.
