Page 71 - FoodFocusThailand No.205 April 2023

SCOOP

Recently Updated Criteria Enabling

“Meat Products” to Display

the “Healthier Choice” Logo

Since people are consuming greater amounts of processed foods, food package labeling has become a
vital communication tool that provides consumers with essential nutrition information. Labels containing
comprehensive, easy-to-understand information provide consumers with better knowledge for selecting and
purchasing food products containing adequate nutritive values. Moreover, food package labeling serves
as an important means for manufacturers to advertise and promote their products, increase added value,
and improve commercial competitiveness and opportunities. Government entities and consumer protection
authorities can also use food package labels to trace and verify the quality of food products after their release
onto the market.

The “Healthier Choice” nutrition
logo guarantees that a certified
product has fulfilled established
health-related criteria and contains
appropriate amounts of sugar, fat,
and sodium for its category and
compared to other products in the
same category. These healthier
choice products may help reduce
the risks of non-communicable
diseases (NCDs), such as
obesity, diabetes, hypertension,
cardiovascular diseases, cancer,
and chronic renal failure. The logo
thus acts as an additional way
for consumers to make informed
decisions about purchasing
healthier food products to improve
their health and nutritional status.
Displaying the “Healthier Choice” ภาพที่่� 2 แสดงกลุ่่�มผลุ่ิตภััณฑ์์อาหาร จำำานวน 14 กลุ่่�มผลุ่ิตภััณฑ์์ ที่่�สามารถขอรับรองสัญลุ่ักษณ์โภัชนาการ
symbol on food packages adheres “ที่างเลุ่ือกส่ขภัาพ” (Healthier Choice) ได้
to conditions stipulated in the Figure 2 14 Product Groups Eligible to Display the “Healthier Choice” Logo
Notification of the Ministry of Public
Health No.373 B.E.2559 (2016) Re: • Serving as educational material for the public to improve their nutritional knowledge;
Display of Nutrition Logo on Label, • Catering to health-conscious consumers
published in the Royal Gazette • Reducing manufacturing costs for food operators.
and enforced on February 25 ,
th
B.E.2559 (2016) onwards. The logo New!!! Specific items in the “Meat products” category can now apply
is designed as an alternative source the “Healthier Choice” nutrition logo
of information for consumers in Currently, 14 product categories are allowed to apply to display of the “Healthier Choice”
selecting healthier foods and is nutrition logo as shown in Figure 2. The most recent category approved to apply for this
not intended to be used as an logo is “Meat products” in which the sodium, fat, and sugar contents of specific food types
advertisement tool or a ranking must not exceed the limits prescribed in Table 1.
indicator of food quality. The simplified “Healthier Choice” nutrition logo is recognized by both the public and
private sectors as a means for consumers to make quick decisions when deciding to
The benefits of the simplified purchase food products containing adequate nutritive values. This logo’s purpose is in
“Healthier Choice” nutrition line with consumers’ buying behaviors that usually take place within a brief time period.
The “Healthier Choice” logo is a voluntary standard certification method that encourages
logo are: the private sector to develop foods containing adequate nutritive values. It also provides
• Serving as a simplified tool an incentive for food enterprises to manufacture and release more products onto the
for consumers to make informed market that meet specific food standards.
decisions about selecting and
purchasing foods with reduced
sugar, fat, and sodium contents;
More Information Service Info C014

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