Fantastic Food Labels and where India wants them?
Have you ever wondered what’s really inside that tempting bag of chips or your favorite chocolate bar? As we casually toss packaged foods into our shopping carts, do we really understand the impact of what we’re eating? India’s food safety regulator thinks it’s time we take a closer look. In light of alarming health statistics, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has approved a new proposal that could change the way we see our favorite snacks forever. This move could revolutionize how we perceive the healthiness of our daily treats and even save lives. But will it actually change our eating habits, or are we too set in our ways? Let’s dive-in to find out.
Have you ever wondered what’s really inside that tempting bag of chips or your favorite chocolate bar? As we casually toss packaged foods into our shopping carts, do we really understand the impact of what we’re eating? India’s food safety regulator thinks it’s time we take a closer look.
India stands on the brink of a major health crisis. The World Health Organization’s latest report highlights that the country is among the top fifty in the world for excessive salt consumption — nearly twice the daily recommended limit of five grams per person. Moreover, India has earned the unsettling title of the “diabetes capital of the world” and, if recent reports by The Lancet are to be believed, it could soon face an “obesity epidemic”.
In light of these alarming statistics, on the sixth of July, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) approved a proposal that requires nutritional information about total sugar, salt, and saturated fat in packaged food items to be displayed in bold, using larger font sizes on labels. This proposal aims to make existing information more prominent and easier to spot.
To be clear, this information is already present on labels. Currently, manufacturers must clearly display ingredients, nutritional labels, and allergens. Additionally, the FSSAI logo, the manufacturer’s license number, the place of manufacture, batch number, the “best before” date, weight, and storage needs must all be included. However, the FSSAI now wants to ensure this vital nutritional information stands out even more.
This move comes as part of a broader effort by the FSSAI to scrutinize packaged goods more closely. Recently, the regulator has cracked down on food businesses that arbitrarily use tags like “Health Drink” and “100% fruit juice” for their products. Over the past year, misleading claims and inadequate labeling by food manufacturers have come under increased scrutiny.
Why are labels so important? With rising disposable incomes and growing awareness about healthy diets, many people have begun reading labels to calculate their macros and daily nutritional requirements. For instance, a fitness enthusiast from Kolkata shared that she always checks total sugars, added sugars, and ingredients because main packaging can be misleading. “They might say sugar-free, but add ‘natural sweeteners’ like dates, which your body processes just like sugar,” she says.
Similarly, a student from Bengaluru relies on labels due to a severe nut allergy and a need to monitor her sugar intake. Both individuals requested anonymity, but their stories highlight a common practice among health-conscious consumers.
However, avoiding sugar entirely is a challenge. Sugar occurs naturally in many foods. Carbohydrates, which include fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy products, are broken down by the body into glucose. Therefore, while sugar cannot be completely avoided, processed foods can significantly increase your sugar intake, often without you realizing it.
Sugar is not just about calories. It can be as addictive as cocaine, according to Cassie Bjork, a US-based certified dietician. “Sugar activates the opiate receptors in our brain and affects the reward center, leading to compulsive behavior despite negative consequences like weight gain, headaches, and hormone imbalances,” she told Healthline. Moreover, excessive sugar intake is linked to increased heart risks and Type Two diabetes due to insulin resistance from poor dietary patterns and inactive lifestyles.
Like sugar, sodium in salt is naturally present in many foods. It is an essential nutrient that helps maintain a balance of water and minerals in the body, aids muscle movement, and supports nerve impulses. However, excessive salt intake can lead to kidney problems, high blood pressure, bone health issues, and gastrointestinal problems.
Saturated fats, often found in processed foods, pose another risk. They can cause a buildup of cholesterol in arteries, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Given these health risks, the FSSAI’s proposal to make nutritional information more prominent appears to be a step in the right direction. Clearly, some people do read labels and make important food choices based on that information.
However, this move could pose challenges for businesses, especially smaller ones. Imagine a small pack of snacks costing five rupees. How will the manufacturer increase the label size? Will they have to remove other important information? For small packaging, this move could be counterproductive.
A businessman with over twenty years of experience in the food imports industry pointed out that many businesses maintain a year’s worth of inventory. “Changing labels suddenly is a huge cost. Larger companies with more capital might find ways to manage, but it’s unfair to smaller businesses,” he said, requesting anonymity.
Moreover, while larger fonts might increase awareness, they may not deter habitual consumers of certain processed foods. Studies have shown that graphic warnings on cigarette packs in India have had little impact on smokers. Similarly, it’s hard to tell if bigger labels alone will discourage people from buying foods high in salt, sugar, and saturated fats. Many consumers are already aware that these foods are unhealthy but choose to consume them anyway.
As of now, the proposal is still in its early stages. The FSSAI will soon issue a draft notification for public comments. This move raises an interesting question: will making nutritional information more prominent change the way we eat, or will our habits remain the same despite the warnings?
References
Chaudhary, M., & Sharma, P. (2023). Abdominal obesity in India: analysis of the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–2021) data. The Lancet Regional Health-Southeast Asia, 14.
FSSAI’s food labelling norms: The need for loud and clear food labels. (2024, July 15). Financialexpress.
FSSAI mandates bold and large-print labels for salt, sugar, and fat on packaged foods. (2024, July 7). Afaqs!
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