Walter Guillermo (fictional name) is 35 years old and works as a private security guard in a condominium of the municipality of Mixco, Guatemala. Although you like fruits and vegetables, your diet consists of instant, soda and fried soups that “cost Q5.00 and fill me a lot,” he says.
Its basic basket, like that of many Guatemalans, according to studies from the National Statistics Institute, INE, is composed of soda, instant soups, snacks and canned meals. With this, it was recorded that in 2024 the per monthly food cost in the urban area was Q850.51 and in the rural area of Q657.59.
However, high -consumption patterns and low animal products, especially red meat, “may be contributing to high nutritional anemias in the country,” according to the study consumption of food and dietary patterns of the population of Guatemala (2008). This demonstrates “the importance of promoting healthy eating and that the population has better access to information on health risk in the consumption of this type of products,” says Ivonne García, director of the healthy Guatemala project, a coalition that aims to strengthen, from civil society, the policies and actions that contribute to having a healthier Guatemala.
United for Food Security
In the desire to contribute to the purchase decisions of the Guatemalans and privilege nutritious foods, above the ultra -processed ones, the healthy Guatemala coalition highlights the importance of the frontal labeling of food through the approval of Law 5504 “Law on the promotion of healthy eating”.
By placing a “frontal warning tag” (EFAN) in products with high sugar content, saturated fats, trans fats, sodium, total fats and sweeteners, consumers can make informed decisions when buying their food.
To support this public health measure, the healthy Guatemala coalition calls on the Guatemalans to request deputies to resume the discussion of the law initiative 5504 and to demand its signature for the food industry to place warning stamps on excess ingredients harmful to health.
“The recent data of the EDVI (National Survey of Living Conditions) show that the population reduces their budget in the consumption of healthy foods, since they are more expensive, in contrast to the low cost and easy access of the ultra prosecuted, known for their poor nutritional quality,” Ivonne García, director of the healthy Guatemala project.
To support this public health measure, the healthy Guatemala coalition calls on the Guatemalans to sign the request to demand that deputies retake the discussion of the initiative of Law 5504 and its urgent approval, so that the food industry plans warning stamps on the excess of ingredients harmful to health.
To sign the request, enter: Guatemalasaludable.org/firmapeticion