Expected effects of Law 27.642 on the school menu, Argentina

Abstract

Objectives: to analyze the expected effects of Law N° 27.642 on "Promotion of Healthy Eating" on the supply of school breakfast or snack in the participating provinces of Argentina in 2022.  

Methods: descriptive and cross-sectional study. The population included all jurisdictions of the country, with 9 provinces participating in the sample, whose mosaic of breakfast and snack menus provided 276 foods. The presence of front-of-package warning labels was assesed according to the he requirements of the Law and the food composition of the products. In addition, foods were categorized according to the Dietary Guidelines for the Argentine Population (GAPA). A descriptive statistical analysis was performed.  

Results: It was found that 102 (37% of the total) foods would be reached by the new regulation, of which 95 products would carry at least one warning label for excess of critical nutrients in the first stage of application, being the most frequent  the corresponding to excess sugars (73%). In the second stage, all the foods covered by the legislation would carry at least one warning label for excess critical nutrients, the predominant ones being excess sugars (82%) and calories (81%). At no stage were products found that require the declaration of precautionary legends. When categorizing the foods covered by the regulations according to the GAPA, 88.2% corresponded to the optional group, 9.8% to the milk, yogurt and cheese group, 1% to the cereal, bread and pasta group and 1% to the fruit and vegetable group. 

Conclusions: Given the growing trend of excess malnutrition in children, it is urgent to redesign the supply of school meals.