Nutritional labeling: historical landmarks in Colombia and the world

Abstract

Nutritional labeling refers to the practice of providing information on food products. Since antiquity, these labels have evolved in tandem with industry, consumers, and government regulations. In Roman and Phoenician times, amphorae were labeled with details such as the date, place of manufacture, and the name of the responsible party. During the Renaissance, the first printed labels emerged, with their development accelerating in the 18th century due to technological advancements and regulatory requirements aimed at health standards. Food labeling is a transdisciplinary field that encompasses nutrition, food engineering, marketing, and law, among other disciplines. The objective of this reflective article was to establish a timeline describing the most significant milestones in food labeling in Colombia and globally, in order to understand the dynamics of this complex system, wherein various stakeholders engage in multiple components that interact simultaneously to comply with current regulations. The methodology employed for this reflective article involved a review of nutritional labeling through specialized databases such as Scopus, PubMed, and Scielo, as well as public institutional repositories from the ministries responsible for regulations, and other academic search engines. The research focused on identifying and analyzing relevant publications using specific keywords related to the origins, background, and history of food labeling worldwide. This reflection has thus highlighted the need for a transdisciplinary approach to responsibly develop procedures under regulations for the food industry. Such an approach aims to provide the end consumer with clear and comprehensible nutritional information about the food, thereby facilitating informed choices. Additionally, it seeks to prevent misleading or erroneous practices within food production companies, in alignment with Resolutions 810 of 2021 and 2492 of 2022 from the Ministry of Health and Social Protection; these actions are consistent with FAO guidelines on sustainable and resilient food systems, contributing to the achievement of the global 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals. Based on historical facts and recognizing that the issues described are not yet fully resolved, ongoing needs over the years become evident. Therefore, there is a call to rethink, abstract, and redefine the Nutritional Labeling system, involving the state, industry, society, and academia.