Members of the Alliance for Food Health announced the opening of a public consultation on proposed changes to Mexico’s food labeling regulation, NOM-051-SCFI/SSA1-2010, calling on citizens to participate to protect and strengthen the right to clear and accurate consumer information.
In December 2025, the Ministry of Economy published the public consultation notice for the proposed modification of NOM-051, which regulates the labeling of prepackaged foods and nonalcoholic beverages. The consultation represents a key opportunity for citizen input into one of Mexico’s most significant public health and consumer protection policies.
Warning labels and precautionary statements on ingredients not recommended for children, such as caffeine and noncaloric sweeteners, have been widely regarded as an important step in preventing diet-related chronic diseases and defending consumer rights. However, civil society organizations and academic groups say some companies, particularly major sweetened beverage brands, have adopted misleading practices to obscure labels, including using very small fonts or placing warnings in less visible areas of packaging.
“These practices are not adequately covered by current regulations and limit consumers’ right to receive clear information at the point of sale,” said Ana Larrañaga, Representative, El Poder del Consumidor.
In response, civil society organizations have presented proposals to strengthen Mexico’s labeling framework. These include requiring warning labels and precautionary statements to be placed in clearly visible locations and in appropriate sizes, following experiences in countries such as Argentina and Colombia. The groups also plan to propose the inclusion of warning statements on the use of synthetic colorants, whose potential adverse effects on children have been documented by scientific evidence.
As part of the initiative, the Alianza por la Salud Alimentaria launched a campaign inviting the public to submit comments through the platform etiquetadosclaros.org/consulta before the consultation period closes on Feb. 3.
“Through this platform, submitting opinions is made easier and a direct call is made to authorities to strengthen NOM-051 and prevent the concealment of information on products,” said Javier Zúñiga, Legal Representative, El Poder del Consumidor. He added that citizen participation is essential for proposed improvements to be included in the current modification process or in the National Infrastructure Program for 2026.
Experts also warned that the regulation faces pressure from industry groups seeking to weaken some of its components, including the nutrient profile recommended by the Pan American Health Organization. “Citizen participation and oversight will be key to defending a strong labeling system, but also to going further and improving it, placing the right to information, public health and the best interests of children and adolescents at the center, especially in a context where heavy industry lobbying threatens to weaken regulation,” said Doré Castillo, General Director, Salud Crítica.
At a press conference, Larrañaga cited an analysis published in PLOS Medicine estimating that maintaining the labeling system could lead to a reduction in daily caloric intake per person and translate into 1.3 million obesity cases reduced or prevented nationwide. She added that improving labeling requirements could amplify these benefits, particularly if visibility and size standards for warning labels were strengthened.
Larrañaga also said that since the introduction of warning labels, there has been no significant growth in obesity rates, calling the trend partially positive, while stressing that the ultimate goal is to achieve a decline. She emphasized that labeling must be accompanied by broader changes in food environments, including greater availability of minimally processed, healthier foods at affordable prices.
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