The global burden of unhealthy diets constitutes a major public health and development challenge worldwide. Urgent action is required to address malnutrition in all its forms, including undernutrition, micronutrient-related malnutrition, overweight, obesity, and diet-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). To accelerate progress, a comprehensive policy approach is required to create enabling and supportive food environments.

Nutrition labelling has been considered as one of the ways to modify the production and consumption of food, including prepackaged food. Given shifts in the global food system and transitions in diet towards prepackaged food, labelling is now not only a primary communication tool but also a valuable marketing asset used to influence decision-making. A government-led, evidence-based and transparent approach to nutrition labelling policies is therefore required.

In response to Member State requests, WHO developed a draft guideline to strengthen and streamline support for Member States in developing and implementing new, or strengthening existing, nutrition labelling policies. The recommendations in the draft guideline were formulated based on evidence from a systematic review of the impacts of the in-scope nutrition labelling policies including a list of ingredients, nutrient declarations, front-of-pack labelling and nutrition and health claims, as well as evidence from a review of relevant contextual factors (e.g. resource implications, equity and human rights, acceptability and feasibility).

The Department of Nutrition and Food Safety (NFS) of WHO held a webinar to launch the public consultation on 9th September 2024. The launch described the guideline development process and explain the public consultation procedure, shared the evidence that informed the development of the guideline and introduced the draft good practice statements, recommendations and remarks.

The public consultation is now open until 11 October (23.59 CET) 2024. You can download the draft guidance and access the online feedback form here. Comments on the draft guideline will be accepted via the online form only. Individuals or organizations wishing to comment must submit a completed and signed Declaration of Interest (DOI) form. An expert peer-review process will occur simultaneously.  After the peer-review and public consultation period concludes, all comments will be reviewed and considered in finalizing the draft guideline before final clearance by the WHO’s Guidelines Review Committee.

Draft guideline and online feedback form

For more details, please visit here.