Declaration of nutritional information, critical nutrients, and additives in the nutritional labeling of ultra-processed meat products sold in supermarkets of a district in Lima, Peru

Introduction: The growing consumption of ultra-processed meat products poses a public health concern due to their high content of sodium, saturated fats, and additives. Nutritional labeling serves as a key tool to inform consumers and promote healthier food choices; however, compliance and accuracy may vary. This study aimed to verify and describe the declaration of nutritional information, critical nutrients, and additives on the labeling of ultra-processed meat products sold in supermarkets in a district of Lima, Peru. Methodology: An observational, and cross-sectional study was conducted in two supermarkets located in Santiago de Surco, Lima, during January 2025. Photographs of available products were collected, yielding 291 unique items. Data on nutritional warning labels, number and type of additives, and compliance with Codex Alimentarius and Peruvian regulations were recorded. Results: The “High in sodium” warning was the most frequent (88.0%), followed by “High in saturated fats” (51.5%) and “Trans fats” (1.7%). Most product categories contained more than seven additives, particularly bacon, bologna, sausages, and nuggets. Preservatives, antioxidants, acidity regulators, and flavor enhancers were the most common additives. Regarding labeling compliance, hamburgers (66.7%) and nuggets (95.7%) showed higher conformity, whereas bacon (7.7%) displayed the lowest. Conclusion: Most ultra-processed meat products analyzed contained high sodium levels and a broad range of additives, with variable compliance with labeling regulations. These results highlight the need to strengthen monitoring and enforcement of nutritional labeling in ultra-processed products available in the Peruvian market.