Mexico’s food warning labels: what they mean and how to read them
The black octagons on Mexican food packages tell you in seconds whether a product has an excess of calories, sugar, fat or sodium. We explain what each label means, the warnings about children and how to use them to shop better.
Key takeaways
- There are 5 labels: calories, sugars, saturated fat, trans fat and sodium.
- They are measured per 100 g or 100 ml, never per serving.
- A label doesn’t ban a product: it asks for moderation.
- Compare similar products and pick the one with fewer labels.
Article contents
What are Mexico’s food warning labels?
They are the black octagons on the front of many packaged foods and drinks in Mexico. They are required by the NOM-051 standard, which was updated in 2020 so that anyone could see at a glance whether a product has an excess of a nutrient worth limiting.
A warning label doesn’t mean the product is banned or that you can never eat it. It means it is best eaten in moderation.
The 5 warning labels and what they mean
| Label (Spanish) | In English | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| EXCESO CALORÍAS | Excess calories | The product is very energy-dense for its size. |
| EXCESO AZÚCARES | Excess sugars | Free sugars are above the limit set by the standard. |
| EXCESO GRASAS SATURADAS | Excess saturated fat | It contains a high amount of saturated fat. |
| EXCESO GRASAS TRANS | Excess trans fat | Trans fat is above the limit. |
| EXCESO SODIO | Excess sodium | It contains a lot of salt (sodium). |
Each label appears when a product goes over the limit the standard sets for that nutrient. The limits are measured per 100 g or 100 ml, or as a share of total energy, never per serving: that way products of different sizes can be compared.
The precautionary warnings
On top of the octagons, there are two rectangles with messages about children:
- “Contiene cafeína. Evitar en niños” (contains caffeine, avoid in children).
- “Contiene edulcorantes. No recomendable en niños” (contains sweeteners, not recommended for children).
How to use the labels when you shop
- Compare similar products. Between two cereals, the one with fewer labels is usually the better choice.
- Check the nutrition table too. Labels flag excesses, but they don’t say how much protein or fibre a product has.
- Mind the portion. A product with no labels still adds calories if you eat a lot of it.
- Read the ingredients. They are listed from most to least: if sugar is near the top, there is a lot of it.
As a general reference, the World Health Organization recommends keeping free sugars below 10% of your calories and eating less than 5 g of salt a day.
Is a product with no labels healthy?
Not necessarily. No labels means it doesn’t go over the limits, but it says nothing about the good nutrients it provides. The most useful approach is to combine the labels with your calorie and macro targets. To start, find out how many calories you need.
Frequently asked questions
How many food warning labels are there in Mexico?
There are five octagons: excess calories, sugars, saturated fat, trans fat and sodium. There are also two warnings about caffeine and sweeteners.
What does the number inside the octagon mean?
It appears on small packages that don’t have room for every label. The number shows how many labels the product would carry.
Is a product with warning labels bad?
It isn’t banned. The labels show it has an excess of a nutrient and is best eaten in moderation.
When did Mexico introduce warning labels?
The update to NOM-051 was published in March 2020 and the labels became mandatory from October that year.
Sources
- Secretaría de Economía. Modificación a la NOM-051-SCFI/SSA1-2010, especificaciones generales de etiquetado para alimentos y bebidas no alcohólicas preenvasados. Diario Oficial de la Federación, 27 de marzo de 2020. dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5590668&fecha=27/03/2020
- World Health Organization. Healthy diet — Fact sheet. www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/healthy-diet
We write nutrition guides with the same calculations and sources the app uses, cited at the end of each article.
This content is for information only and does not replace advice from a doctor or dietitian. If you have a health condition, are pregnant or take medication, check with a professional before changing how you eat.
