Brazil Introduces Legislation To Protect Public Health From Processed Foods

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July 5, 2012

Brazil Introduces Legislation To Protect Public Health From Processed Foods

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The Brazilian government has introduced legislation to protect and improve its

traditional food system, standing in contrast to the governments of many

industrialized countries that have partly surrendered their prime duty to

protect public health to transnational food companies, argue nutrition and

public health experts writing in this week'sPLoS Medicine.

Monteiro and Geoffrey Cannon, from the Center for Epidemiological Studies

in Health and Nutrition of the University of Sao o, explain that, in Brazil,

traditional long-established food systems and dietary patterns are being

displaced by ultra-processed products made by transnational food corporations

( " Big Food " and " Big Snack " ) contributing to increases in the incidence of

obesity and of major chronic diseases, and adversely affecting public health and

public goods by undermining culture, meals, the family, community life, local

economies, and national identity.

The authors argue: " The use of law to protect and improve food systems and

supplies, and thus public health, may be difficult in parts of the world where

governments have already ceded the responsibility of governance to transnational

and other corporations. However, in Brazil protection of public health still

remains a prime duty of government. "

The authors explain that by law, all Brazilian children attending state schools

are entitled to one daily meal at school, at least 70% of the food supplied to

schools must be fresh or minimally processed, and a minimum of 30% of this food

must be sourced from local family farmers. They say that such measures help to

check the penetration of transnational corporations into Brazil.

Although the penetration of such corporations into Brazil has been rapid, the

tradition of shared and family meals remains strong and is likely to provide

protection to national and regional food systems.

The authors say: " Notwithstanding intense pressures, which include ubiquitous

television and internet propaganda designed to turn eating and drinking into

constant individual snacking, food and drink consumption is not yet dislocated

and isolated from family and social life in Brazil. "

The authors argue that Brazil's experiences in resisting " Big Food " and " Big

Snack " can help other countries. They say: " the Brazilian experience provides a

basis for the design of rational, comprehensive, and effective public health

policies and actions designed to protect and promote nutrition in all its

senses. "