Sodium warning labels in Brazil before mandatory front-of-pack labelling: A comparative study with other Latin...

This study provides a comprehensive assessment of sodium content in packaged foods and beverages sold in Brazil before the implementation of its mandatory front-of-package warning label (WL) system. A total of 7042 food and beverage labels were collected between 2021 and 2023, before the full enforcement of mandatory WL, and integrate the Brazilian Food Label Database. Data was stratified in food groups defined by nutrition labeling legislation. Median concentrations were highest in the groups of sauces, broths, and ready-to-eat dishes, both in liquid products (1584 mg /100 mL) and solid products (650.5 mg/100 g), as well as in foods based on oils and fats (630.0 mg/100 g), and processed meat products (684 mg/100 g). Following Brazilian criteria, 20.8 % (n = 1092) of foods and 9.1 % (n = 97) of beverages were "high-in‑sodium" and would have to display a sodium WL, with sodium content ranging from 600 to 37,518 mg/100 g in solids and from 302 mg to 6830 mg/100 mL in liquids. Using thresholds from other Latin American countries, these rates would increase to 49.9 % of foods and 36.4 % of beverages. In some food groups, such as olives, seasoning blends, sausages and frankfurters, nearly all products require a WL, with up to 62.5-fold variation in sodium content. Notably, 43.1 % of cheeses exceeded 600 mg/100 g but are exempt from sodium WLs under current Brazilian rules. This study provides critical evidence to inform regulatory improvements and baseline data to evaluate WL impacts on sodium content in packaged foods sold in Brazil.