New Delhi. Health experts, consumer rights activists and the food industry have started protesting against the new health warning labels proposed by the Indian government on packaged foods.
Health activists say the proposed system is too weak, while the food industry claims the standards are too strict.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) last week proposed to put a red hexagon shaped warning on the front of the packet only if the quantity of at least two of the added sugar, salt or 'saturated fat' exceeds the specified limit.
The main objection of health experts is on the standard of these 'two nutrients'. According to them, even if only one of the sugar, salt or saturated fat in a food is too much, it can escape the warning.
Barry Popkin, a nutritionist at the University of North Carolina in the US, said that such an arrangement would be ineffective. According to him, in other countries that have implemented warning labels, there is a system for giving separate clear warnings for each major nutrient.
The Supreme Court of India is also hearing on the issue of putting health warnings on the front of food products. It is said that the court will hear the proposal of FSSAI on September 10.
The actor pointed out the 'hole'.
The health group "Threes and Our Health" has prepared to object to the court saying that there are many weaknesses in the proposal. The group has questioned the exemption given to certain foods that are naturally high in sugar or fat, including honey and jaggery, and the provision of warnings only if two nutrients are high.
For example, Kellogg's "Multigrain Chocos" sold in India has about 27% extra sugar by weight, but the salt and fat are within the recommended limits, so the activists claim that it may not receive a warning.
The government has also been expressing concern that the problem of obesity is increasing in India. According to a study, about 180 million adults in India were affected by overweight or obesity in 2021, which number is estimated to reach 450 million by 2050.
Industry Says - 'All Products Will Look Red'
But the food industry has said that the proposed standard is too strict. Industry representatives have also expressed displeasure with the proposal to determine warnings based on 100 grams of food. According to their logic, consumers do not eat 100 grams of things like pickles or ketchup at a time.
India has proposed a warning if solid foods contain more than 3 percent added sugar and 4.2 percent fat, which the industry claims are stricter standards than many foreign markets. The chief executive of an Indian food company has expressed concern that if the proposal is implemented, "all products will look red".
Traditional sweet and salty producers are also dissatisfied with the proposal. The Sweets and Salty Manufacturers Federation of India has said that its nearly 5,000 members are seriously concerned. According to the federation, since sugar, salt and fat are integral parts of many traditional foods, warnings may appear on a large number of sweets and snacks, which may negatively affect consumer perception and demand.
