RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 News coverage of Mexico’s front-of-package food label policy
JF BMJ Global Health
JO BMJ Global Health
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP e008803
DO 10.1136/bmjgh-2022-008803
VO 7
IS 5
A1 A Susana Ramírez
A1 Kesia K Garibay
A1 Denise Diaz Payán
A1 Victoria Campos Gática
A1 Yolanda Merino Salmeron
YR 2022
UL http://gh.bmj.com/content/7/5/e008803.abstract
AB Objectives To examine news coverage of Mexico’s front-of-package food labelling policy.Methods We used Lexis Nexis to identify newspaper articles that mention the proposed law in four Mexican newspapers representing politically centre-left and centre-right perspectives. We coded for type and valence of arguments, sources and research evidence cited.Results We identified N=361 relevant articles. Coverage of the front-of-package food label policy was primarily news (vs editorial/opinion). While most were neutral in tone, left-leaning newspapers had slightly more positive overall coverage compared with right-leaning newspapers, indicated by publishing more stories in favour of the policy, fewer in opposition, more propolicy arguments and more frequent inclusion of perspectives by government officials and public health advocates. Despite some evidence of bias, there was a general lack of credible opposition to the policy and mention of opponents across newspapers.Conclusions and policy implications The relative absence of food and beverage industry stakeholders in news coverage of the food label policy is unexpected given their documented involvement in prior food policy debates. We discuss possible reasons for their conspicuous absence and lessons for public health advocates around the globe.Data are available on reasonable request.