Regional Workshop on Nutrition Labelling to Promote Healthy Diets

17 – 19 April 2019
Bangkok, Thailand
Nutrition labelling is a key policy option to prevent and control diet-related noncommunicable diseases. Thus, labels should provide factual and non-misleading information and, enable consumers to make healthier choices and also encourage industry to reformulate foods to a more nutritious composition. A recent review of nutrition labelling in Asia report a diversity of practices. In most countries, nutrition labelling remains voluntary, unless a health or nutrient content claim is made. Few countries have implemented regulations on nutrition information on labels. Front of pack labelling schemes are rare, and of those available, few are industry led. The increasing availability and consumption of pre-packaged processed foods in Asia makes it imperative to provide technical support to improving country labelling policies.

A Regional Workshop was organized in Bangkok Thailand, to provide technical support to 15 countries to review and imporve their labelling practices to promote healthy diets. Ten country teams from WHO South -East Asia Region and five teams from WHO Western Pacific Region participated in the three day workshop held in Bangkok, Thailand.