FOOD MANUFACTURERS are urging the National Nutrition Council (NNC) to revisit proposed nutrient thresholds laid down in the new food classification system, warning that the current scheme could force product reformulations and potentially raise consumer prices.
In a joint statement on Wednesday, Food Industry Asia (FIA) and the Philippine Chamber of Food Manufacturers, Inc. (PCFMI) said the proposed Philippine Nutrient Profile Model (PNPM) could disrupt food supply and consumer prices.
“Scientific analysis shows that an alarming 95% of commercially available food products would fail to meet the profiling threshold, threatening widespread disruption to the food supply and consumer choice,” they said in a statement.
The PNPM aims to promote healthier eating habits amid rising cases of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
The model would classify packaged food and beverages based on levels of sugar, sodium, saturated fat, and total fat. It could serve as the basis for front-of-pack labeling, marketing restrictions, and possible taxes on products exceeding set thresholds.
While backing the goal of addressing NCDs, the industry groups said the proposed thresholds are “highly restrictive” and may not reflect Filipino dietary patterns.
They noted that the model proposed by the NNC draws from benchmarks used by the Pan American Health Organization.
“Under the current proposal, the thresholds are set at quite an extraordinary level. And why would you base a food classification system on somewhere like Central and South America? Filipino diets and consumption habits are incredibly different,” FIA Chief Executive Officer Matt Kovac said at a briefing on Wednesday.
The groups said commonly consumed and relatively affordable grocery staples, including instant noodles, canned goods such as sardines, ready-to-drink beverages, and packaged snack foods, could exceed the proposed thresholds.
They warned that labelling a large share of products as “unhealthy” could make them less attractive to consumers, prompting manufacturers to reformulate products and redesign packaging.
Mr. Kovac said compliance with the PNPM would entail significant operational and regulatory burdens, including relabeling products and securing approvals from the Food and Drug Administration.
“All companies — small, medium, and large — would have to change labels and re-register products with the FDA. That requires time, cost, and technical capability,” he said.
These changes, they said, would likely increase production costs and be passed on to consumers.
Micro, small and medium enterprises, which account for more than 99% of the packaged food industry, would also be particularly affected, the groups said.
The groups called on regulators to conduct further validation and broader consultations before finalizing the model.
“We need to do more validation, consultation with many stakeholders, particularly food manufacturers,” PCFMI Executive Director Mario Capanzana said.
“We propose that we recalibrate it and consider some of the food categories, classify it according to global standards (and) the Philippine National Standards, if that is applicable,” he added. — Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel
