CARICOM’S EFFORTS TO TACKLE UNHEALTHY DIETS: A CAUTIONARY TALE FOR LATIN AMERICA

Authors

  • Nicole D. Foster The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill
  • Andres Constantin Georgetown University Law Center
  • Shajoe J. Lake Georgetown University Law Center

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21783/rei.v8i2.663

Abstract

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is currently burdened with high rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Unhealthy diets are a major factor driving the region’s increased NCD rates. Since the 1990s, trade agreements have facilitated an influx of ultra-processed foods and sugary beverages into the region. These unhealthy commodities contain excess critical nutrients, which are closely linked to the top three NCDs risk factors in the Americas––high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and obesity. Mandating front-of-package warning labels (FOPWL) as part of a suite of public health interventions is a scientifically proven, human-rights compliant response to promoting healthier diets. FOPWL allows consumers to correctly, and quickly, identify pre-packaged food items that contain excess critical nutrients. Recognizing this, the CARICOM Regional Organization for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) revised its regional standards on the labeling of prepackaged foods to include FOPWL. However, the regional food and beverage industry worked assiduously to undermine CROSQ’s normative effort. In its quest, the industry exploited regional integration mechanisms, co-opted human rights and decolonization narratives to decenter public health and to seize autonomy over the FOPWL process. This paper analyses these strategies to serve as a cautionary tale for Latin America.

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Author Biographies

Nicole D. Foster, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill

Mrs Nicole Foster is a former diplomat who acted as Counsellor in Barbados’ Permanent Mission to the UN and the WTO in Geneva from 1999 to 2005. Since returning to Barbados, she has acted as a resource person/consultant for international organisations, private sector agencies and for the Barbados government on international trade matters. Mrs Foster is a member of PAHO’s Advisory Technical Group on Alcohol Policy and of the Indicative List of Arbitrators to hear disputes under the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement. She is also serves on the Board of Management of the Barbados National Standards Institution. Besides her teaching responsibilities, Mrs Foster leads the Faculty’s Law and Health Research Unit.

In addition to her University responsibilities,Mrs Foster is Policy Advisor with the Healthy Caribbean Coalition, a regional civil society organization advocating on prevention and control of chronic non-communicable diseases in the Caribbean. In this capacity she has authored a number of policy papers/reports on international trade and NCDs and on broader foreign policy issues relevant to NCD advocacy. In 2018, Mrs Foster was attached to the PAHO Sub-regional Coordination Programme for two months as its NCDs Advisor.

Andres Constantin, Georgetown University Law Center

Andrés Constantin is an associate with the Healthy Families Initiative, assistant director of the health law LL.M. programs at the O’Neill Institute, and an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University.

He currently works on legal and policy issues relating to health. Constantin has expertise in a variety of areas ranging from sexual and reproductive health rights to the regulation of risk factors for noncommunicable diseases risk. In addition to his work at the O’Neill Institute, he is pursuing his Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) degree at Georgetown Law. He is also a 2021 New Voices Fellow at the Aspen Institute.

Andrés holds an abogado (J.D. equivalent) degree from Universidad Torcuato Di Tella and an LL.M. in global health law from Georgetown University, where he made the dean’s list with distinction. He also holds a certificate in international human rights law from Georgetown University.

Shajoe J. Lake, Georgetown University Law Center

Shajoe J. Lake is an institute fellow at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law.

Prior to joining the O’Neill Institute, Lake worked at an international insurance advisory firm, negotiating personal injury awards and advising insurers in the United Kingdom and the Caribbean on tortious liability cases. Lake is currently a healthy food policy fellow at Vital Strategies and has partnered with various public health organizations on healthy food policy initiatives in the Caribbean.

Lake holds a Bachelor of Laws (J.D. equivalent) from the University of the West Indies at Mona, Jamaica, and a Master of Laws in national and global health law from Georgetown University Law Center. He is a trained attorney licensed to practice in Jamaica.

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Published

2022-08-31

How to Cite

Foster, N. D., Constantin, A., & Lake, S. J. (2022). CARICOM’S EFFORTS TO TACKLE UNHEALTHY DIETS: A CAUTIONARY TALE FOR LATIN AMERICA. JOURNAL OF INSTITUTIONAL STUDIES, 8(2), 254–279. https://doi.org/10.21783/rei.v8i2.663

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 2 (2022)

Section

Articles

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