Strengthening Food Labeling Policies in Brazil

  • 10k

    Total downloads

  • 56k

    Total views and downloads

Download PDFDownload EPUB

Submit your idea

You will be redirected to our submission process.

Submit your manuscript summarySubmit your manuscript

About this Research Topic

Submission closed

Background

Data from Brazil shows an increase in obesity and non-communicable diseases, which is related to the expansion of the participation of ultra-processed food products in diets and in the food environment, displacing fresh and minimally processed foods and meals prepared with them. One of the solutions to improve food environments requires the implementation of effective and adequate food labeling regulations, including front-of-package labeling. This policy tool has the potential to inform the consumers about the nutrients, ingredients, or any other component of public health concern contained in the products and facilitate healthier food choices.

This Research Topic will convene important evidence on the new nutrition food labeling regulation in Brazil, that was approved in October 2020 and will be implemented by October 2022. The evidence might also be informative for other countries in Latin American and the Caribbean, where food labeling policies have been advancing, while dealing with strong opposition by the food industry and with conflicts of interest within governments. The contribution of this Research Topic to the body of scientific evidence on food labeling and regulations from different countries is important to strengthen effective public policies and to overcome the obstacles preventing their adoption and implementation to ultimately help consumers make better food choices.

Many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have been advancing food labeling policies, with an emphasis on the front-of-package nutrition labeling. Chile, Peru, Mexico, and Uruguay have implemented warning labels and many others have taken important steps towards the adoption and implementation of this policy tool in the region. Brazil has approved new provisions for its food labeling regulation to be implemented and enforced by October 2022.

Data on food labeling, especially on front-of-package nutrition labeling, is growing fast since public health policies on this issue are being discussed, improved, and implemented all over the world, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean. Brazil is a continental country with remarkable importance for and influence on the region. Therefore, advancing the research on Brazil’s new food labeling policies is crucial to reveal its weaknesses and strengths and draw key lessons to improve the policy for the country and also for existing and upcoming policies in the entire region. Reporting on the evidence that support effective public health policies can also contribute to provide states with the necessary tools to fulfil their obligations to protect, respect and fulfil human rights, which include the adoption of labeling policies that can ease the use of information by the population, protect consumers from misleading information and from persuasive elements driving the purchase of unhealthy products, and help them take healthier food choices.

The potential articles will approach themes related to the food labeling regulation approved in Brazil in October 2020, to be implemented in October 2022, including aspects not covered by the regulation but still important to protect public health:

- Front-of package nutrition labeling (design and parameters that define products subject to the observance of front-of-package labeling provisions such as nutrient profiling model, food classification, definitions, exemptions);
- List of ingredients;
- Nutrient declaration (also known as nutrition information table, nutrition facts panel or table);
- Nutrients and ingredients of concern;
- Nutrition and health claims;
- Other claims and labeling elements affecting consumers’ choice;
- Marketing on the labels and packages of food and drink products;
- Industry interference and conflicts of interest throughout the regulatory process (e.g. policy formulation, consultation, decision, adoption, enactment);
- Potential impact of the implementation of the Brazil’s food labeling policy as well as of improved versions and alternatives.
We understand some of these aspects can be approached from a general perspective and still be applicable to the Brazilian context, but priority will be given to articles directly related to the Brazilian reality (i.e. based on Brazil’s food supply, Brazilian consumers and Brazilian stakeholders).

Only manuscripts free of conflicts of interest will be considered for this Research Topic.

We acknowledge the funding of the manuscripts published in this Research Topic by Instituto Brasileiro de Defesa do Consumidor (IDEC). We hereby state publicly that Instituto Brasileiro de Defesa do Consumidor (IDEC) has had no editorial input in articles included in this Research Topic, thus ensuring that all aspects of this Research Topic are evaluated objectively, unbiased by any specific policy or opinion of Instituto Brasileiro de Defesa do Consumidor (IDEC).

Keywords: Food labeling, Nutrition labeling, Nutritional quality, Food ingredients, Food policies, Nutrition policies, Food legislation, Eating, Consumer behavior

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Topic editors

Frequently asked questions

  • Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.

    Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.

  • The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.

    Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.

  • As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.

    A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.

  • Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and it falls under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.

    In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.

  • Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.

    As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.

    Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.

     

  • Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.

    Check available article types here 

  • Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. 

    Suggest your topic here 

  • A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.

    The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.

  • As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field. 

     

    You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.

  • As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).

  • If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.

  • Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.

  • Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.

  • As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.

    Find out more about our Research Topics

  • Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.

    Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.

  • In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.

     

Impact

  • 56kTopic views
  • 43kArticle views
  • 10kArticle downloads
View impact