Chile has undergone major demographic, epidemiological, and nutrition transitions over the past 50 years and currently has the highest prevalence of obesity in Latin America. Non-communicable diseases account for 83% of all deaths in Chile, for which over-nutrition and obesity are both major determinants. Massive increases in consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) has helped fuel these trends. From 2009–2014, Chile saw the fastest absolute growth of SSB sales in the world, and in 2014, Chile had the highest per-person daily calories sold from SSBs in the world. To combat these trends, Chile has implemented one of the most comprehensive set of obesity-preventive regulations to date in the world, including a sugary drink tax, a front-of-package warning label system, and restrictions on marketing and advertising of unhealthy foods and drinks. Staggered implementation of these regulations across four years allows us to evaluate the policies’ independent and joint impacts.
Our evaluations to date: In collaboration with our research partners in Chile, we have evaluated the impacts of the Chilean sugary drink tax and Phase 1 and 2 of the Law of Nutritional Composition of Food and Advertising and its combined warning label, marketing restriction, and school sales policies. Data indicate that within the first and second year of implementation, these policies were already impacting the foods and drinks Chileans buy and consume as well as the public’s perceptions of junk foods targeted by the policies.
We will continue our work in Chile through 2023 in order to evaluate all three phases of the Law of Nutritional Composition of Food and Advertising.
Policies
Ley 20.780 | Implemented October 1, 2014
Beverage tax law
For all non-alcoholic drinks with with coloring, flavoring, or caloric sweeteners:
- 18% ad valorem tax on drinks containing >6.25 g sugar/100 mL (5% increase from previous rate of 13%)
- 10% ad valorem tax on drinks with ≤6.25 g sugar/100 mL (3% decrease from previous rate of 13%)
Exempt: 100% fruit juice and dairy-based beverages
Ley 20.606 | Implemented June 27, 2016
Law of Food Labeling and Advertising
This law introduced mandatory front-of package labeling, marketing restrictions, and school sales/marketing policies, which all use same nutrient profiling model to identify which products are subject to regulation. Packaged food and beverage products containing added sugars, sodium, or saturated fat and exceeding set thresholds for content of total sugar, sodium, saturated fat, or overall calories are considered “high in” products subject to all regulations. The law was implemented in three phases (in June of 2016, 2018, and 2019) with increasingly strict nutrient thresholds.
- Front-of-package warning labels: “High in” products must carry black octagon “stop sign” octagonal warning labels for each nutrient in excess of thresholds (calories, sugar, saturated fat, and/or sodium). Products with a “high in” warning label for a given nutrient/calories cannot carry a health/nutrient claim related to that nutrient (or calorie content).
- Marketing restrictions: “High in” products may not use child-directed marketing strategies or appeals in any media/marketing (including use of brand characters on packaging);
- School sales & marketing: “High in” products cannot be marketed, sold, or offered for free at kiosks, cafeterias, and feeding programs at schools and nurseries.
In-Country Research Partner
In-Country Team Leads
- Camila Corvalán Aguilar - Co-PI, Assistant Professor, INTA, Universidad de Chile
- Marcela Reyes Jedlicki - Co-PI, Assistant Professor, INTA, Universidad de Chile
- Teresa Correa - Assistant Professor, Universidad Diego Portales
- M. Fernanda Mediano Stoltze - Assistant Professor, School of Psychology, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
- Natalia Rebolledo Fuentealba - Assistant Professor, INTA, Universidad de Chile
GFRP Team Leads
Publications
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Decreases in purchases of energy, sodium, sugar, and saturated fat 3 years after implementation of the Chilean food labeling and marketing law: An interrupted time series analysis
Authors: Lindsey Smith Taillie, Maxime Bercholz, Barry Popkin, Natalia Rebolledo, Marcela Reyes, Camila Corvalan
Published in: PLOS Medicine, September 27, 2024 view full text -
Food Industry Compliance With the Display of Front-of-Package Warning Labels at the Final Phase (2020) of Chile's Labeling and Advertising Law
Authors: Natalia Rebolledo, Pedro Ferrer-Rosende, Marcela Reyes, Lindsey Smith Taillie, Camila Corvalan
Published in: American Journal of Public Health, September 26, 2024 view full text -
The consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with adiposity, but not with metabolic indicators in a prospective cohort study of Chilean preschool children
Authors: Camila Zancheta, Natalia Rebolledo, Lindsey Smith Taillie, Marcela Reyes, Camila Corvalán
Published in: BMC Medicine, August 26, 2024 view full text -
Beverage industry TV advertising shifts after a stepwise mandatory food marketing restriction: achievements and challenges with regulating the food marketing environment.
Authors: Fernanda Mediano Stoltze, Teresa Correa, Camila Luz Corvalán Aguilar, Lindsey Smith Taillie, Marcela Reyes, Francesca Renee Dillman Carpentier
Published In: Public Health Nutrition, December 27, 2023 view full text -
Chile's comprehensive food policy offers global lesson in tackling unhealthy foods.
Authors: Francesca Dillman Carpentier, Lindsey Smith Taillie, Teresa Correa
Published in: Health Policy Watch, August 8, 2023 view full text -
Evolution of food and beverage prices after the front-of-package labelling regulations in Chile
Authors: Guillermo Paraje, Daniela Montes de Oca, Camila Corvalán, Barry M. Popkin
Published in: BMJ Global Health, July 3, 2023 view full text -
Restricting child-directed ads is effective, but adding a time-based ban is better: evaluating a multi-phase regulation to protect children from unhealthy food marketing on television
Authors: Francesca R. Dillman Carpentier, Fernanda Mediano Stoltze, Marcela Reyes, Lindsey Smith Taillie, Camila Corvalán, Teresa Correa
Published in: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, May 26, 2023 view full text -
Framing a new nutrition policy: Changes on key stakeholder’s discourses throughout the implementation of the Chilean Food Labelling Law
Authors: Fernanda Mediano, Camila Fierro, Camila Corvalán, Marcela Reyes, Teresa Correa
Published in: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, May 1, 2023 view full text -
Changes in children’s and adolescents’ dietary intake after the implementation of Chile’s law of food labeling, advertising and sales in schools: a longitudinal study
Authors: Gabriela Fretes, Camila Corvalán, Marcela Reyes, Lindsey Smith Taillie, Christina D. Economos, Norbert L.W. Wilson, Sean B. Cash
Published in: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, April 4, 2023 view full text -
Socioeconomic patterns in budget share allocations of regulated foods and beverages in Chile: a longitudinal analysis
Authors: Guillermo Paraje, Daniela Montes de Oca, Camila Corvalán, and Barry Popkin
Published in: Nutrients, January 29, 2023 view full text -
Sweetener purchases in Chile before and after implementing a policy for food labeling, marketing, and sales in schools
Authors: Natalia Rebolledo, Maxime Bercholz, Linda Adair, Camila Corvalán, Shu Wen Ng, Lindsey Smith Taillie
Published in: Current Developments in Nutrition, December 23, 2022
view full text -
Did the sweetness of beverages change with the Chilean Food Labeling and Marketing Law? A before and after study
Authors: Natalia Rebolledo, Maxime Bercholz, Camila Corvalán, Shu Wen Ng, Lindsey Smith Taillie
Published in: Frontiers in Nutrition, October 28, 2022 view full text -
Why don’t you [government] help us make healthier foods more affordable instead of bombarding us with labels? Maternal knowledge, perceptions, and practices after full implementation of the Chilean food labelling law
Authors: Teresa Correa, Camila Fierro, Marcela Reyes, Lindsey Smith Taillie, Francesca Renee Dillman Carpentier, Camila Corvalán
Published in: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, April 9, 2022 view full text -
Changes in nonnutritive sweetener intake in a cohort of preschoolers after the implementation of Chile's Law of Food Labelling and Advertising
Authors: Natalia Rebolledo, Marcela Reyes, Barry M. Popkin, Linda Adair, Christy L. Avery, Camila Corvalán, Shu Wen Ng, Lindsey Smith Taillie
Published in: Pediatric Obesity, January 27, 2022 view full text -
Front-of-pack labeling in Chile: Effects on employment, real wages, and firms’ profits after three years of its implementation
Authors: Guillermo Paraje, Daniela Montes de Oca, Juan Marcos Wlasiuk, Mario Canales, Barry M. Popkin
Published in: Nutrients, January 11, 2022 view full text -
The impacts on food purchases and tax revenues of a tax based on Chile’s nutrient profiling model
Authors: M. Arantxa Colchero, Guillermo Paraje, Barry M. Popkin
Published in: PLOS ONE, December 2, 2021 view full text -
Youth's diets at school after implementation of Chile's Food Labeling and Advertising Law
Authors: Gabriela Fretes, Camila Corvalan, Marcela Reyes, Christina Economos, Lindsey Smith Taillie, Norbert Wilson, Sean Cash
Published in: Obesity, December 1, 2021 view full text -
Changes in the use of nonnutritive sweeteners in the Chilean food and beverage supply after the implementation of the Food Labeling and Advertising Law
Authors: Ricardo C. Zancheta, Camila Corvalán, Lindsey Smith Taillie, Vilma Quitral, Marcela Reyes
Published in: Frontiers in Nutrition | Nutrition and Food Science Technology, November 8, 2021 view full text -
Television viewing and using screens while eating: Associations with dietary intake in children and adolescents
Authors: Melissa L. Jensen, Francesca R. Dillman Carpentier, Camila Corvalán, Barry M. Popkin, Kelly R. Evenson, Linda Adair, Lindsey Smith Taillie
Published in: Appetite, September 1, 2021 view full text -
Changes in food purchases after the Chilean policies on food labelling, marketing, and sales in schools: a before and after study
Authors: Lindsey Smith Taillie, Maxime Bercholz, Barry M. Popkin, Marcela Reyes, M. Arantxa Colchero, Camila Corvalán
Published in: The Lancet Planetary Health, August 1, 2021 view full text -
Impact of warning labels on reducing health halo effects of nutrient content claims on breakfast cereal packages: A mixed-measures experiment
Authors: Fernanda Mediano Stoltze, Emily A. Busey, Lindsey Smith Taillie, Francesca Dillman Carpentier
Published in: Appetite, August 1, 2021 view full text -
TV advertising and dietary intake in adolescents: A pre-and post-study of Chile’s Food Marketing Policy
Authors: Melissa L. Jensen, Francesca R. Dillman Carpentier, Linda Adair, Camila Corvalán, Barry M. Popkin, and Lindsey Smith Taillie
Published in: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, May 4, 2021 view full text -
The effects of the Chilean food policy package on aggregate employment and real wages
Authors: Guillermo Paraje, Arantxa Colchero, Juan Marcos Wlasiuk, Antonio Martner Sota, Barry M. Popkin
Published in: Food Policy, April 1, 2021 view full text -
Ultra-processed food consumption among Chilean preschoolers is associated with diets promoting non-communicable diseases
Authors: Carolina Araya, Camila Corvalán, Gustavo Cediel, Lindsey Smith Taillie, Marcela Reyes
Published in: Frontiers in Nutrition, March 26, 2021 view full text -
Examining Chile's unique food marketing policy: TV advertising and dietary intake in preschool children, a pre‐ and post‐policy study
Authors: Melissa L. Jensen, Francesca Dillman Carpentier, L. Adair, C. Corvalán, Barry M. Popkin, Lindsey Smith Taillie
Published in: Pediatric Obesity, October 26, 2020 view full text -
Changes in the amount of nutrient of packaged foods and beverages after the initial implementation of the Chilean Law of Food Labelling and Advertising: A nonexperimental prospective study
Authors: Marcela Reyes, Lindsey Smith Taillie, Barry M Popkin, Rebecca Kanter, Stefanie Vandevijvere, Camila Corvalán
Published in: PLOS Medicine, July 28, 2020 view full text -
Food advertising on television before and after a national unhealthy food marketing regulation in Chile, 2016–2017
Authors: Teresa Correa, Marcela Reyes, Lindsey Smith Taillie, Camila Corvalán, Francesca Dillman Carpentier
Published in: American Journal of Public Health, July 1, 2020 view full text -
Evaluating the impact of Chile’s marketing regulation of unhealthy foods and beverages: Pre-school and adolescent children’s changes in exposure to food advertising on television
Authors: Francesca Dillman Carpentier, Teresa Correa, Marcela Reyes, Lindsey S. Taillie
Published in: Public Health Nutrition, March 2020 view full text -
An evaluation of Chile’s Law of Food Labeling and Advertising on sugar-sweetened beverage purchases from 2015 to 2017: A before-and-after study
Authors: Lindsey S. Taillie, Marcela Reyes, Michelle A. Colchero, Barry M. Popkin, Camila Corvalán
Published in: PLOS Med, February 11, 2020 view full text -
Combined fiscal policies to promote healthier diets: effects on purchases and consumer welfare
Authors: Juan C. Caro, Pourya Valizadeh, Alejandrina Correa, Andres Silva, Shu Wen Ng
Published in: PLOS One, January 15 2020 view full text -
Responses to the Chilean Law of Food Labeling and Advertising: Exploring knowledge, perceptions and behaviors of mothers of young children
Authors: Teresa Correa, Camila Fierro, Marcela Reyes, Francesca R. D. Carpentier, Lindsey S. Taillie, Camila Corvalan
Published in: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2019 view full text -
Dietary intake by food source and eating location in low- and middle-income Chilean preschool children and adolescents from southeast Santiago
Authors: Natalia Rebolledo, Marcela Reyes, Camila Corvalán, Barry M. Popkin, Lindsey S. Taillie
Published in: Nutrients, July 23 2019 view full text -
Snacking patterns among Chilean children and adolescents: Is there potential for improvement?
Authors: Melissa L. Jensen, Camila Corvalán, Marcela Reyes, Barry M. Popkin, Lindsey S. Taillie
Published in: Public Health Nutrition, May 24 2019 view full text -
The prevalence and audience reach of food and beverage advertising on Chilean television according to marketing tactics and nutritional quality of products
Authors: Teresa Correa, Marcela Reyes, Lindsey Smith Taillie, Francesca Dillman Carpentier
Published in: Public Health Nutrition, April 2019 view full text -
Structural responses to the obesity and non‐communicable diseases epidemic: Update on the Chilean law of food labelling and advertising
Authors: Camila Corvalán, Marcela Reyes, Maria L. Garmendia, Ricardo Uauy
Published in: Obesity Reviews, March 2019 view full text -
Sugar-sweetened beverage intake among Chilean preschoolers and adolescents in 2016: A cross-sectional analysis
Authors: Michael Essman, Barry M. Popkin, Camila Corvalán, Marcela Reyes, Lindsey S. Taillie
Published in: Nutrients, November 15 2018 view full text -
Chile’s 2014 sugar-sweetened beverage tax and changes in prices and purchases of sugar-sweetened beverages: An observational study in an urban environment
Authors: Juan C. Caro, Camila Corvalán, Marcela Reyes, Andres Silva, Barry M. Popkin, Lindsey S. Taillie
Published in: PLOS Med, 2018 view full text -
Prevalence of child-directed and general audience marketing strategies on the front of beverage packaging: The case of Chile
Authors: Fernanda Mediano Stoltze, Joshua O. Barker, Rebecca Kanter, Camila Corvalán, Marcela Reyes, Lindsey S. Taillie, Francesca R. Dillman Carpentier
Published in: Public Health Nutr, November 2 2017 view full text -
Designing a tax to discourage unhealthy food and beverage purchases: The case of Chile
Authors: Juan C. Caro, Shu Wen Ng, Lindsey S. Taillie, Barry M. Popkin
Published in: Food Policy, August 2017 view full text -
A research agenda to guide progress on childhood obesity prevention in Latin America
Authors: Kline L, Jones-Smith J, Jaime Miranda J, Pratt M, Reis RS, Juan A. Rivera, Sallis JF, Barry M. Popkin.
Published in: Obesity Reviews, July 2017 view full text -
Nutrition status of children in Latin America
Authors: Corvalán C, Garmendia ML, Jones-Smith J, Lutter CK, Miranda JJ, Lilia S. Pedraza, Barry M. Popkin, Ramirez-Zea M, Salvo D, Stein AD.
Published in: Obesity Reviews, July 2017 view full text