Argentina
Country targets
- Sodium: In 2013 mandatory targets were set with 2 and 5 year goals. To continue the gradual strengthening of these targets, a Joint Resolution was introduced in 2017 extending salt limits to additional food categories.
- Sugar: No targets
- Saturated fat: No targets
Sodium (2017-2018):
Packaged food sampling
Number products sampled: 3,674
Date collected: 2017-2018
Nutrient types: sodium
Methods
Data was collected by the members of the research team from Interamerican Heart Foundation in four grocery stores corresponding to three leading retailers in Argentina. One of the stores was in the city of Buenos Aires and the other three stores were in Buenos Aires province.
Each product was surveyed using the food composition database software, Food Label Information Program (FLIP). Data collection consisted of scanning the bar code of each product and taking photographs of all sides of the product. This information was then uploaded to the FLIP database. For each product, the manufacturer, brand, product name, serving size, container size and complete nutritional information was entered.
Products were categorized into 14 main groups and further into 40 sub-categories corresponding to those established by national law and to regional food categories. Mean, median, interquartile range, minimum and maximum values and coefficient of variation of sodium content (mg per 100 g of product) were calculated.
Data source
Citation: Allemandi L, Tiscornia MV, Guarnieri L, Castronuovo L, Martins E. Monitoring Sodium Content in Processed Foods in Argentina 2017-2018: Compliance with National Legislation and Regional Targets. Nutrients. 2019;11(7):1474. Published 2019 Jun 28. doi:10.3390/nu11071474
Contact
Victoria Tiscornia
Researcher, FIC Argentina
[email protected]
Institution leading data collection
Interamerican Heart Foundation Argentina, Arévalo 2364, C1425 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Sodium (2015-2016):
Packaged food sampling
Number of products sampled: 1,275
Date collected: July 2015 – February 2016
Nutrient types: sodium
Methods
Data on packaged food in Argentina was obtained by research teams from the Latin American Network of Food Composition Data System (LATINFOODS) as part of a larger study from 14 participating countries: Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Paraguay, Panama, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago. Samples were collected from the grocery stores with the greatest market share in each country; nutrition labels were photographed for content.
Mean, median, standard deviation, interquartile range and minimum and maximum levels were calculated for sodium content (mg/100g) in each of 12 food categories and were used for comparison with the regional target level for sodium.
Data source
Citation: Arcand J, Blanco-Metzler A, Benavides Aguilar K, L’Abbe MR, Legetic B. Sodium Levels in Packaged Foods Sold in 14 Latin American and Caribbean Countries: A Food Label Analysis. Nutrients. 2019;11(2):369. Published 2019 Feb 11. doi:10.3390/nu11020369
Contact
No contact information available
Institution leading data collection
Latin American Network of Food Composition Data System (LATINFOODS)
