The Pan American Health Organization Nutrient Profile Model was launched today in Washington DC. It is a tool to classify food and drink products that are in excess of critical nutrients such as sugars, salt, total fat, saturated fat and trans-fatty acids.

The PAHO Nutrient Profile Model can be used in the design and implementation of various regulatory strategies related to the prevention and control of obesity/overweight, including the following:

• Restriction in the marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to children.
• Regulation of school food environments (feeding programs and food and beverages sold in schools).
• Use of front-of-package (FOP) warning labels.
• Definition of taxation policies to limit consumption of unhealthy food.
• Identification of foods to be provided by social programs to vulnerable groups.

The nutrients and cut-off criteria were defined by an Expert Consultation Group that included globally recognized experts in public health nutrition. The group was commissioned by PAHO to develop a nutrient profiling scheme for use by Member States.