2024 promises to be an interesting year in global nutrition policy. There are several significant actions planned, but elections and more pressing economic matters, such as continued global conflict and supply chain disruptions, raise legitimate questions about the likelihood and timing of implementation. In America, the 2024 presidential election probably means regulatory proposals not released by mid-year will at minimum be delayed. Below are three big areas Global Food IQ is closely watching – reach out for more detail and for help navigating upcoming opportunities and challenges.
- Front of Pack Labeling (FOPL):
In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working to finalize an update to the “healthy” claim definition, as well as propose broader regulations for nutrition based FOPL that is more interpretive than the voluntary labels used today. At present, FDA is targeting April for “healthy” and June for FOPL, but these dates are guideposts.
Globally, efforts to harmonize FOPL in Europe have stalled due to competing pressures and interests in the European Union. However, favored systems like Nutri-Score continue to gain traction in certain countries, and proponents are exploring ways to evolve this label to incorporate elements like processing. The Codex Committee on Food Labeling is also progressing work to evaluate eco-labels, or FOPL based on environmental sustainability metrics.
Global Food IQ recently joined Eat Well Global for an informative Q&A on this topic. View the conversation here.
- Food-Based Dietary Guidelines Shifts:
COP28, the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, addressed the relationship between food and climate for the first time in December, with more than 130 countries signing a declaration to take action. This represents a new level of political will for food system changes, which should bolster already expanding efforts to include sustainable diet recommendations in dietary guidelines.
In the U.S., the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) wrapped its third meeting on Friday, January 19. Their exploration of protein food substitutions in dietary patterns reflects this trend. In addition, the DGAC continues to progress its evaluation of ultra-processed foods (UPF). Notably, they acknowledged they will be using UPF definitions beyond NOVA in their research.
- High Fat, Sugar, Salt (HFSS) Foods Restrictions:
Policies and regulations like marketing restrictions, food and beverage taxes, and nutrient reduction programs are increasingly popular strategies for reducing access to and availability of certain foods. Broader use of these policies leads to more data on their impact and helps encourage other countries to follow suit. Important examples likely to impact the broader landscape include:
-
- Colombia’s tax on UPF – a global first in terms of its framing, applying to a broader array of foods than other taxes used in LATAM. Plans are in place to study the effects of this tax and encourage surrounding countries to adopt similar measures.
- Canada’s proposal on marketing to children – updated marketing restrictions were promised as part of Canada’s 2017 Healthy Eating Strategy, and a formal action is imminent. As global regulations become more stringent in terms of how child marketing is defined and applied, Canada’s decision will set an example for North America.
- And one to watch for the future – how alcoholic beverages may or may not get pulled into this space, as some countries take more conservative positions on alcohol consumption recommendations. This year, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine will review the evidence on alcohol intake and health outcomes, to inform future Dietary Guidelines for Americans advice.
Other issues on your radar? Send a note to [email protected] with requests for future blog and newsletter content, or to schedule an introductory call to discuss your needs.
