Chilean Healthy Eating Law

Obesity and related non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) represent the main causes of death and disability in Chile. These causes account for a major proportion of health-care costs and loss of productivity, burdening the country's economy. Based on the 2013 Global Burden of Disease estimates, high body mass index (BMI) is the second most important risk factor in Chile with consistent evidence indicating increasing overweight and obesity rates in the population and a socioeconomic gradient. These increasing rates were fueled by massive increases in the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). For example, in 2014, Chileans had the highest per-person daily calories from sugary beverages in the world. As of 2014, the Chilean government undertook some policy steps1 to combat these trends considering the influence of the food system on the diet of the Chilean population. More specifically, in October 2014, the government implemented tax modification on nonalcoholic beverages, or soft drinks i.e. 8% tax on SSBs relative to other beverages. As of 2016, further implemented changes on foods and beverages with added sugars, sodium, saturated fats or calories that exceed set thresholds were mandated in the form of 'front-of-package warning labels' (on packaged products). Additionally, several marketing restrictions applied i.e. cannot advertise on TV programs or websites targeting children (≤14y) and in 2017, the advertising ban expanded to all TV programming and cinema from 6am–10pm. A number of studies are looking into the before and after effect of the policy on the food environment and on children's health including their dietary behavior. During the talk, some of these preliminary results will be presented and discuss implications of this policy in other countries facing similar challenges. 1. http://globalfoodresearchprogram.web.unc.edu/multi-country-initiative/countries-where-wework/chile/ (author)