Regulations and Food Reformulation: Impact on Processes, Costs, and Supply Chain. A Systematic Review
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Introduction: The increase in the consumption of sugary beverages and other processed drinks has had a direct impact on public health, promoting the adoption of regulations such as front-of-pack nutrition labeling (FOPNL). These policies aim to guide consumer decisions and encourage product reformulation to reduce sugars, sodium, and saturated fats.
Objective: To systematically analyze the existing evidence on the impact of FOPNL regulations and product reformulation on production processes, costs, and supply chains.
Materials and Methods: A systematic review was conducted in indexed databases (Scopus, SciELO, etc.) covering the period between 2018 and 2025. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to focus on studies evaluating the effect of labeling policies and reformulation strategies in the food and beverage industry.
Results: The literature shows that mandatory regulations generate greater changes than voluntary ones. Chile, Mexico, and Canada reported significant reductions in sugar and sodium content, as well as adjustments in product formulations and production processes. Although the industry anticipated increased costs and negative impacts on employment, studies indicate that prices were not consistently passed on to consumers and no adverse macroeconomic effects were observed. FOPNL systems proved to be more understandable than alternatives such as Guideline Daily Amounts (GDA), increasing pressure on the industry to reformulate.
Conclusions: FOPNL and product reformulation are key tools to improve public health and foster innovation in the industry. However, gaps remain in the precise quantification of costs, in the long-term effects on supply chains, and in comparative analyses of regulatory frameworks.
- Labeling Food
- Beverages and Food
- Consumer Behavior
- Nutrition Policy
- Supply Chain
- Product Reformulation
- Industrial Processes
- Economic Costs.
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