Various civil society groups and Panama's Healthy Food Movement are urgently calling for a crackdown on ultra-processed foods, which are responsible for a public health crisis costing the country over $1 billion annually in medical expenses. According to the 2019 Health Census, 3 in 4 adults (75%) and 2 in 5 children and young people (40%) suffer from overweight or obesity. They highlight that more than half of the calories consumed by the population come from ultra-processed products loaded with synthetic additives, excess sodium, and saturated fats. This situation is increasing cases of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver, and various types of cancer. “Obesity is a disease that is largely caused by ultra-processed foods (full of chemicals). 4 out of 5 people have obesity and overweight problems; and 80% of deaths in Panama are the result of poor diets,” said Rafael Carles, a member of the movement. “If we continue at this rate, obesity could become an epidemic,” said Carles. The group urges parents to take control of their children's nutrition through healthy lunches. “We are concerned about the insistence of distributors to sell prohibited products in school kiosks and cafeterias, ignoring Law 75 of 2017 and Decree 049 of 2018,” the group stated at a press conference. Additionally, they demand that the Ministry of Education (Meduca), the Ministry of Health (Minsa), and the Authority for Consumer Protection and Competition Defense (Acodeco) monitor and sanction economic agents who violate the norm. “We do not rule out filing formal complaints against distributors, school principals, and kiosk administrators who, aware of the harm to our children's health, prefer to turn a blind eye,” the collective added. The movement also rejects the proposal by some merchants to replace front-of-pack warning labels with QR codes. The Movement reaffirmed that its fight is for clear labeling of excess sugar, salt, and fats, the regulation of junk food advertising aimed at children, and the increase of taxes on sugary drinks and ultra-processed products.
