In recent months, interest in fast food in the region's markets has continued to show a clear upturn, with El Salvador, Panama and Honduras recording the largest increases in interactions on the subject.
Through a system that monitors in real time changes in consumer interests and preferences in Central American countries, developed by CentralAmericaData, it is possible to project short and long term demand trends for the different products, sectors and markets operating in the region.
In the first semester of 2017, Central American countries imported $17 million worth of sauces and their preparations from Mexico, 11% less than in the same period in 2016.
Figures from the information system on the Central American Market for Sauces and Ingredients for their Preparations, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
In 2016 countries in the region bought $103 million worth of soups and their preparations, and 44% of the total came from the USA and Mexico.
Figures from the Information System on the Market for Soups and Preparations in CentralAmerica compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graphic"]
The FDA now requires calorie information to be included on menus of restaurants, chain, similar retail food establishments and vending machines with 20 or more locations.
From a statement issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) US:
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States has finalized two regulations requiring the inclusion of calorie information on menus and menu boards in chain restaurants, similar retail food establishments and vending machines with 20 or more locations, in order to offer consumers greater nutritional information on food eaten outside of the home. The regulations are a requirement of the law on Affordable Health Care and Patient Protection 2010.