Innovative Measures to Combat Childhood Obesity with Octagonal Warning Labels on Ultra-Processed Foods: Progress Report

Health campaigners on Wednesday reported progress in their efforts to combat childhood obesity, unveiling a series of innovative measures aimed at creating healthier environments for children.

Central to these efforts is the long-mooted introduction of octagonal warning labels on ultra-processed foods—a policy poised to empower consumers to make healthier choices and reduce alarming rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among the nation’s youth.

At a press conference marking World Children’s Day, the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados (HSFB) and the Barbados Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition highlighted their progress in tackling childhood obesity and shared updates on their campaign to foster healthier environments for Barbadian children.

A cornerstone of their initiative is the push for octagonal warning labels on ultra-processed foods. These labels are designed to provide consumers with clear, actionable information about high levels of sugar, sodium, and fat, enabling them to make healthier dietary choices.

The Save Lives campaign, the centrepiece of the coalition’s work, has garnered widespread support in Barbados, the campaigners said. Mass Media Campaign Officer for HSFB, Khrystal Walcott revealed the findings of a recent survey on the initiative’s progress.

She said: “In 2022, we conducted a study to identify support for a type of package warning labels in Barbados, to which we got 75 per cent support. Following this study, we have 93 per cent support for the introduction of octagonal warning labels in Barbados.”

Noting the effectiveness of the octagonal warning labels in other countries, Walcott added: “Chile is one of 11 Latin American countries that implemented the octagonal warning label in 2016. Since then, they have seen a tremendous improvement in persons making healthier choices. Researchers found that households bought 37 per cent less sugar, 22 per cent less sodium, 16 per cent less saturated fat, and 23 per cent fewer calories from products using the warning labels.”

Closer to home, Walcott referenced findings from a Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) study conducted in Barbados: “The results showed decreases in sodium, added sugars, and saturated fats through the octagonal warning labels. And it has the potential to avert at least 16 per cent of deaths in Barbados.”

The drive for healthier environments comes as the country grapples with a troubling rise in childhood obesity. According to the coalition, 31 per cent of Barbadian children are overweight or obese—a statistic linked to an escalating national crisis in non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Noted paediatrician Professor Anne St John, co-chair of the Barbados Childhood Obesity Coalition (BCOC), reflected on the issue: “We are seeing type 2 diabetes in particular, and hypertension and cancers in much more of a prevalence than we used to see before…. Lives are being lost or negatively impacted every day by the challenge that can be regulated and better managed by policies.”

The National School Nutrition Policy has already made strides in addressing the issue. “We are encouraged by the uptake of the school nutrition policy and other initiatives, but we hope for further strengthening of childhood obesity policies due to concerns about the impact of non-communicable diseases,” she added.

Despite progress, significant hurdles remain, particularly the unproclaimed 2021 Vending Bill, which aims to regulate vendors near schools to curb unhealthy food sales.

Professor St John stressed the urgency of this matter: “This is very unfair to the concessionaires who are trying to comply with the policy within the schools’ premises, yet they have the competition and fear outside.”

Engagement with stakeholders has been a key focus of the coalition’s work. Co-chair Nicole Griffith highlighted their efforts with canteens, vendors, and parents. The coalition conducted multiple training sessions with canteen operators and vendors to align menus with the nutrition policy, revamped the snack list and introduced standardised recipes, and also collaborated with local producers, encouraging them to create healthier options.

Griffith added: “We’ve brought on local cottage industries to supply snacks that meet our nutritional guidelines. They now compete on the same playing field as larger companies.”

Forums have also been held to educate parents on healthy meal preparation, physical activity, and reducing processed foods.

Professor St John emphasised the importance of continued action. “Change is never easy, but we are seeing a growing understanding of why the policy is important to the future of our children,” she said. (RG)