Life Today PH

MANILA — The Healthy Philippines Alliance (HPA), a network of civil society and public health advocates convened by HealthJustice, backed the majority of Filipinos or 70% who agreed that the government should mandate food manufacturers to print black octagonal food warning labels on the front packaging of food and beverage products if they contain high levels of sugar, sodium, or fats.

Moreover, 75% of Filipinos agreed they would be able to choose other healthier options if warning labels were visible in pre-packaged food and drinks. The poll also revealed that food warning labels on products triggered more than half or 58% of Filipinos to feel deeply concerned about their children’s health.

The staggering results came from the recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) nationwide survey in March 2026 commissioned by the HPA and released in time for National Nutrition Month this July.

“The SWS survey results strongly validate that front-of-pack warning labels are the best fit for Filipino consumers. We really need to improve our food labels now. Parents most especially, deserve simple yet direct guidance on pre-packaged food so they can easily shield their families from the rising threat of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease,” said Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, Lead Convener of the HPA and former Health Secretary.

Furthermore, the survey first presented a mock product of a fortified powdered milk drink to test the healthfulness perception of 1,500 respondents. The mock product was perceived as healthy by 48% of Filipinos, 45% were undecided, 5% said it was not healthy.

Respondents who later examined the same mock product with the Traffic Light Label and the Health Star Rating only had a slight change in perception. 50% and 53% of Filipinos respectively perceived the product as healthy, 43% and 44% were undecided, and 5% and 2% said it was not healthy.

But when shown the mock product with food warning labels, perception shifted. Only 28% of Filipinos believed it was still healthy, 32% were undecided, and 38% thought it was no longer healthy.

“The survey evidence shows Warning Labels largely outperform other front-of-pack labeling schemes, in this case, Traffic Light and Health Star Rating, at changing perceptions of healthfulness of a product. Those who perceived the mock product with Warning Labels as not healthy are relatively higher in Balance Luzon (46%), rural areas (42%), class E (40%), females (39%), among aged 25-44 (40%), and college graduates (48%),” the First Quarter 2026 Social Weather Survey reported.

“Filipinos deserve clear, honest, and easy-to-understand front-of-pack food warning labels that immediately identify pre-packaged products high in sugar, sodium, or unhealthy fats,” said Jennina Duatin, Registered Nutritionist-Dietitian and Board of Trustees of Diabetes Philippines, an HPA member organization.

Duatin continued, “There are many foods and beverages that market themselves as healthy but in reality have high levels of nutrients that can cause them to become at risk of having chronic diseases. The nutrition details are usually found on the back-of-pack Nutritional Facts panel, which can be hard to understand and interpret by the consumers. Front-of-pack warning labels can empower consumers to make informed food choices and help protect them from misleading marketing practices.”

At present, the HPA continuously supports and pushes for the passage of House Bill 8284 or the “Healthy Food Marketing and Labelling Act of 2026” sponsored by Pusong Pinoy Partylist Representative Jett Nisay under the 20th Congress.

The proposed measure requires the mandatory display of black octagonal food warning labels on the front of packaged foods and beverages that exceed the limits set for sugar, sodium, and saturated fats as prescribed by the Philippine Nutrient Profile Model (PNPM).

Subsequently, any product that will bear food warning labels shall be totally prohibited from all forms of marketing, especially those targeted to children.