Evaluación del etiquetado de bocaditos salados expendidos en los supermercados de la ciudad de Cuenca

Abstract

Since 2008, Ecuador has recognized health as a right in its Constitution, so that safe and permanent access to healthy, sufficient and nutritious food is one of the fundamental pillars that ensure adequate health. Currently, the common consumption of processed foods such as salty snacks may be related to the development of chronic noncommunicable diseases such as overweight and obesity, as these products have a poor nutritional quality where the high fat and sodium content stands out. NTE-INEN 022, NTE INEN 1334-(1,2 and 3) regulations have been implemented to guide the consumer on the nutritional quality of the product to be purchased, which indicate the requirements, quantities and nutritional and health claims that products should have. The objective of the study was to analyze the components of labelling, nutritional, health and promotional claims of the salted snacks sold in supermarkets in the city of Cuenca, on the basis of the Ecuadorian labelling regulations for processed food for human consumption. An observational descriptive study was carried out to evaluate the labelling of 160 salted snacks sold in supermarkets in the city of Cuenca, collecting the information in a data collection form. The results indicated that the most popular salted snacks are those that include agricultural products (cereals and tubers), mainly national and have bar code in their entirety. Most of the products were found to have traffic light labelling, and to be in the format of the nutritional framework. The products show low sugar values, but higher salt and especially fat. High compliance with the regulations established in the Ecuadorian Technical Standard NTE-INEN 1334-1,2 and 3, Mainly the dietary fiber did not fully comply with the indications. Environmental, health and nutrient content claims were the most frequently presented on product labels, while promotional strategies and offers in general were scarce.