Comparative study of front-of-pack nutrition labels at global level, a social responsibility issue

At the global level, there are many different front-of-pack nutrition labels and there is not yet established a convergence. To promote healthier food, Governments and manufacturers try to provide more nutritional information on food labels. Changes in food labeling policy depend on how consumers and companies react to changes in the market. The paper is based on the current regulations that exist worldwide. The analysis covered the period between 1980 and 2021. This study increases the attention of all stakeholders involved in the front-of-pack nutrition labelling debate. In this regard it is relevant to present the advantages and disadvantages, the similarities and the differences of front-of-pack nutrition labelling, because each one is unique, so it is hard to compare them by using the same criteria. The paper brings into the spotlights different policies from different countries that aim to educate the consumers about the content of food, the case of front-of-pack food labeling, that represents a social responsibility issue, especially for health and obesity prevention, no communicable diseases, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, due to the important role played. Our results show that there are key items, in terms of social responsibility, companies should take into account when planning their strategies and may help also the investors in food manufacturing companies with an increased interest in social information to request and understand the importance of the front-of-pack nutrition labelling of companies they want to invest in. It is important to understand the label of products that we buy, to be able to choose wisely. Our research is important for the business to advance in disclosure on the pack of food of relevant information, as well for the academic community regarding the front-of-pack nutrition labelling, as a responsibility issue. Future research is needed since there is a variety of front-of-pack nutrition labelling and is changing constantly.