WHO Unveils Multi-Agency Strategy To Curb False Food Labelling, Boost Enforcement On Sugary Products
When a consumer picks up a bottle of sweetened beverage, the information on the label is often the only guide to what goes into their body.
But what happens when those labels are misleading?
This concern took centre stage during a World Health Organisation (WHO) webinar on sweetened beverage taxation, where senior WHO officials outlined how the global health body is working with governments and international partners to monitor and sanction manufacturers that may misrepresent nutritional content on front-of-the-pack labels.
Responding to questions on enforcement mechanisms, WHO officials stressed that food labelling regulation is not the responsibility of nutrition departments alone.
According to them, food safety authorities play a critical role, as they are legally mandated to monitor the food supply, inspect products, and enforce compliance with national regulations.
They emphasised that effective policies must go beyond good intentions to include clear enforcement provisions, such as penalties and sanctions for violations.
“Regulations must be backed by strong monitoring systems within national food control frameworks, and governments must have the capacity to enforce compliance,” one official noted.
Acknowledging that some countries struggle with limited enforcement capacity, the WHO revealed that civil society organisations are increasingly stepping in to help monitor sugar levels and nutrient content in foods and beverages.
These groups, officials said, are not only advocating for compliance but are also supporting governments to make a stronger case for increased investment in food monitoring and enforcement systems.
The WHO further highlighted that it does not work in isolation on these issues.
Officials explained that the organisation collaborates closely with other United Nations agencies responsible for food systems and agriculture, including the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Rome, partners in Paris, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
This coordinated approach, they said, allows the UN system to speak with a unified voice, covering both health-specific regulations, such as food labelling and product standards, and related sectors like agriculture and trade.
“Working together through these multilateral platforms makes a huge difference,” a WHO official said, adding that it strengthens global efforts to promote transparency, protect consumers, and reduce diet-related diseases linked to excessive sugar consumption.
As countries increasingly turn to sweetened beverage taxes as a public health tool, the WHO insists that honest labelling, robust monitoring, and real enforcement will be key to ensuring the policy delivers healthier outcomes for populations worldwide.
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