Novel approaches for identifying unhealthy food and beverages for policy: a cross-sectional study of purchases of packaged products in Latin America

Pedraza L.S.; Dunford E.K.; Taillie L.S.; Ng S.W.; Miles D.R.; Zancheta C.; Diez-Canseco F.; Popkin B. · The Lancet Regional Health - Americas (2026) · DOI: 10.1016/j.lana.2026.101650

Resumen

Background: This research aims to facilitate the identification of unhealthy food and beverages by examining approaches that progressively integrate nutrient criteria and specific markers of ultra-processing to strengthen and support the development and implementation of regulations targeting unhealthy foods within Latin America. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined urban representative household purchase data for packaged foods and beverages from Kantar Chile, Mexico, and Peru in 2018–2019. Five approaches identifying products as unhealthy were compared: the Nova classification system to identify ultra-processed foods (UPFs); products high in saturated fat, sodium, and sugar (HFSS) based on the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) criteria; and three approaches combining HFSS criteria with the presence of cosmetic additives (e.g., non-nutritive sweeteners, colors, flavors, other additives). Proportions of products targeted for regulation under each approach were compared within and between countries. Findings: The proportion of unhealthy products identified across the different approaches ranged from 57 to 81% for beverages and 50–77% for foods. The most comprehensive identification of unhealthy products for policy targeting was found when products met either HFSS criteria or contained any cosmetic additive. Interpretation: A combined approach that identifies products meeting either PAHO’s nutrient thresholds or containing UPF additive markers can substantially increase the proportion of foods and beverages identified as potentially unhealthy for policy targeting, compared with using either approach alone. Policymakers should select an identification approach that is practical to implement within their country’s existing technical capacities and policy frameworks, while prioritizing broad coverage of all potentially unhealthy products. Funding: Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Instituciones: Universidad Científica del Sur