Cofepris and Profeco immobilized more than 10,000 products for not complying with labeling

The Federal Commission for the Protection against Health Risks (Cofepris) and the Federal Consumer Prosecutor's Office (Profeco) immobilized more than 10,000 units of domestic and imported products that were displayed in supermarkets in Mexico City for non-compliance with frontal food labeling (NOM-051 standard), implemented in 2020 .

This was stated on Wednesday by the Mexican authorities through a statement on social networks. They detailed that the review was carried out in several establishments in the Mexican capital where visits were made to verify compliance with the standard and verify that consumers are adequately informed about the products they purchase.

According to national regulations, nutritional information must appear with “clear, visible, indelible characters and in contrasting colors”.

Among the products that did not comply with the labeling were more than 80 brands of various products such as powdered chocolates, malted syrups, table chocolate, cookies, cereals, corn syrup, jellies, among others. Highlights include:

* Chocolate flavored sandwich cookies with creamy filling, vanilla flavor, brand Oreo.

* Chunky cookies, Chips Ahoy brand.

* Toasted Oat Cereal Sweetened with Marshmallows, Lucky Charms Brand.

* Pesto sauce, Filippo Berio brand.

* White chocolate, Kraft brand.

* Corn frying, Doritos brand.

* Pop Corn flavors flamin hot and cheese, Cheetos brand.

* Liquid Corn Syrup, Hershey's brand.

* Lemon flavor gelatin, JELL-O brand.

The agencies reported that the products had irregularities such as omitting stamps of excess calories or excess sugars, omission of allergen legends and those associated with caffeine and sweetener content.

In addition, some of them featured interactive images on products with warning stamps or repealed labeling.

They recalled that national regulation is of a “mandatory nature” and, as regards labelling, establishes the commercial and health information that must be contained in the labeling of the pre-packaged product intended for the final consumer, both domestically and foreignly manufactured and marketed domestically.

In addition, “nutritional warning seals must be placed in front of the packaging”.

In October 2020, frontal labeling for processed foods and beverages came into force in Mexico, a measure that Mexican authorities set as part of actions to prevent the increase in cases of overweight and obesity in the country.

According to the law, industrialized products and sugary drinks must be labeled with warning labeling or with nutritional characteristics where the product exceeds the established value.

These must contain an octagonal symbol with a black background and a white border that says “High in”, followed by the characteristic that must be highlighted either fats, saturates, sodium and sugars, among others.

More information in development.