This petition is aimed at requiring food manufacturers to print Front-Of-Package (FOP) warning labels on unhealthy foods in the U.S. 

Obesity in the United States is the highest compared to any other high-income country. Close to half of the adults in the US are obese, at 42.4%, a percentage that has more than doubled since 1970. Each year, thousands of people in the United States die from obesity and obesity-related health issues. Heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes being some of the most prominent leading causes of death in the US, in 2022, indicates that obesity is a prevalent issue. As obesity is a notable cause of the listed illnesses, obesity must be reduced in order to decrease these death rates. 

Some Latin American countries, such as Chile, Uruguay, Peru, and Mexico, have implemented Front-Of-Package (FOP) Warning Labels on packaged foods with excess calories, sugars, fats, saturated fats, sodium, caffeine, etc. Manufacturers are required to print large black octagonal warning labels that write “EXCESO CALORÍAS,” “EXCESO AZÚCARES,” “EXCESO SODIO,” etc. In Mexico, these labels are predicted to reduce obesity by 14.7%, equivalent to 1.3 million fewer obesity cases, and save $1.8 million in healthcare costs. To summarize, enforcing FOP warning labels on certain food packages in the United States can help reduce obesity rates, therefore reducing the risk of some of the most common illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease. Despite potential opposition from major food companies, prioritizing public health is essential.

Thus, I am calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to require all food manufacturers in the United States to print FOP warning labels on products that exceed recommended levels of calories, sugars, fats, saturated fats, sodium, caffeine, etc. Similar to the ones printed in some Latin American countries, these labels should be clearly displayed with bold letters so that consumers can make healthier decisions when deciding what to purchase. Even if FOP warning labels seem small, they will make a difference, and that is necessary for the well-being of the citizens of the United States.