INDUSTRY groups on Wednesday called for a more extensive review of the proposed Philippine Nutrient Profile Model (PNPM), which is designed to classify packaged food and beverages based on levels of sugar, sodium, saturated fat and trans-fat content.
The PNPM is being developed by the National Nutrition Council with the aim of promoting healthier consumption habits amid rising cases of noncommunicable diseases that include obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular ailments.
In a press briefing, the Food Industry Asia (FIA) and Philippine Chamber of Food Manufacturers Inc. (PCFMI) said the final version of PNPM should consider possible impacts on both manufacturers and consumers.
“Working closely with the relevant stakeholders, like the food industry, and ensuring true inclusive dialogue is essential in shaping policies like the PNPM. It allows both public health goals and food supply chain realities to be considered, leading to solutions that are more practical, balanced and widely supported,” the PCFMI said in a statement.
Once enacted, the PNPM could be used to implement mandatory front-of-pack warning labels on products that exceed thresholds, restrict marketing of food and beverages for children, and possibly control implementation of food taxes.
The groups claimed the PNPM’s current thresholds were not aligned with international product development and safety standards.
The industry groups also said that nutrient thresholds should be finalized after validation studies are completed.
FIA and PCFMI said the food industry wantedthe PNPM to lead consumers toward better nutrition choices without making food staples harder to access.
”[I]f packaged foods become more expensive or limited, consumers may turn to cheaper, unregulated options that lack clear nutritional information and safety standards. This could even cause greater risk to their health,” they said.