Open AccessConfusion or fraud? Labeling of Stevia Sweeteners
Author(s) -
Fiorella Geraldine Olazar,
Eduardo Ramón Ferreira,
Victoria Valdovinos,
Sacchio Kanasawa,
Ingrid Micaela Barua Stock,
Nidia Benítez Candia,
Danilo Fernández Ríos,
Andrea Alejandra Arrúa
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
south florida journal of development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2675-5459
DOI - 10.46932/sfjdv3n2-053
Subject(s) - stevia , confusion , food labeling , business , nutrition labeling , food industry , food safety , food science , marketing , chemistry , medicine , psychology , alternative medicine , pathology , psychoanalysis
Fraudulent labeling is an emerging problem in the food industry worldwide. Many Stevia sweeteners are marketed in Paraguay, and their labels can be confusing. For this reason, 21 packs of sweetener products were analyzed regarding their degree of compliance with the labeling regulations in force in the country. All of the analyzed containers complied with the MERCOSUR regulations on food labeling, and 95.2% complied with MERCOSUR regulations on nutritional labeling. Over half of the containers did not comply with the local regulation for the naming of Stevia products. This is the first study on possible fraudulent labeling carried out in Paraguay, and it highlights the need to monitor compliance of food labeling regulations in the country.