Influências da indústria de alimentos na regulação internacional: um estudo da Norma Follow-up Formula do Codex Alimentarius

Abstract

The formula industry's marketing practices are well known, but little is known about the corporate policy activities (CPA) of formula industries in global policies and regulations. In Codex Alimentarius, the discussion about the follow-up formula product has many challenges, such as the age group proposed for use, the lack of data on global consumption, the World Health Organization guidelines that classify it as unnecessary for infant feeding, and the increased consumption of these products among children from 24 to 36 months of age. Industries, with their strong economic power, have influenced public policy, research and the practices of healthcare professionals and use CPA to ensure a favorable policy environment. This thesis sought to analyze the positions and interferences of the food industry in the decision-making process regarding the regulation of follow-up formulas within the scope of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU). An exploratory analysis was carried out through the case study of the product Follow-up Formula. A qualitative approach was used to analyze the documents of the CCNFSDU in the years 1966 to 2019, with the objective of reporting the process of incorporating the norms for formulas. For the analysis of the CPAs of the food industry in the years 2009-2019, the systematic step-by-step approach recommended by Mialon (2018) was used and a quantitative analysis was used make explicit and systematize the aspects of composition and participation of country delegations and observer organizations, the profile of the participants and the capillarity of the food industry in this process. Of the 189 Codex Members, 134 participated in the Standard review process, of which 28% participated in the entire process. The average participation of private interest representatives in national delegations was 42%. There was a low participation of representatives of organizations for the defense of rights, less than 10% of the observer organizations were of public interest and more than 59% of them were associations of interest to industries. Big Formula participated in the entire review process. We identified 171 examples of CPA practices carried out by 11 observer organizations, with the majority of practices being discursive strategies used to “shape the debate on food and public health”, combined with instrumental strategies. The themes DHA, proteins and carbohydrates were the subjects on which the industry focused most intensely, followed by the nitrogen conversion factor, breast milk as a reference for follow-up formulas, labeling, inclusion of references to WHA/WHO resolutions, cross promotion and nutrition and health claims. The Norma review process was lengthy, with disputes over issues that are important to the food industry and public health. It is well known that industries use the discussion of public health to accommodate the economic importance of the sector and are represented by commercial organizations in the decision-making locus.