- Any responsible government would desperately wish to ensure its citizens are not only health conscious but also lead an extremely healthy life that would be productive for the overall well-being of the nation. No nation would want to see young citizens suffering from avoidable lifestyle diseases like hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and some such unhealthy illnesses. And we know these lifestyle diseases could be kept at bay by following a strict diet without indulging in too much sugar, salt, trans fat, and other processed elements. Genetically, we Indians are naturally not in the habit of observing healthy food habits.
PC: Dt. Gautam Jani
- Not for nothing, India is dubiously anointed as the diabetes capital of the world. As such, food intake assumes significant importance in the overall scheme of things. Against this backdrop, efforts are underway by the Indian food regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to usher in the much-needed dissemination of information about packaged food exhibiting content on its labels. However, FSSAI coming out with the guidelines has given the snack industry a long four-year period before the front of packet labelling (FOPL) becomes mandatory. Needless to mention, food regulator FSSAI should cut down on munchies as the limits set for permissible sugar, salt, and fat content in processed foods are very high.
- As mentioned above, lifestyle diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and cardiac ailments are already at alarming levels. Factor in economic costs of morbidities like loss of productivity and household savings. The industry perhaps worries that FOPL will open people’s eyes to the reality of processed foods. But that’s exactly the point. Processed food is not healthy, period. Good practices can start right away without waiting four years. Thus, citizens have a right to know what exactly they are eating and its consequences down the line. Such consumer awareness will force the industry to adhere to safer levels of sugar, salt, and fat content.
PC: Ash O’Mahony
- For the uninitiated, FSSAI is opting for a star rating – five stars for the healthiest food and half a star for the unhealthiest. But the positive factors for a higher rating like the presence of vegetables, fruits, nuts, millets, fibres, etc are no consolation if the sugar, salt, or fat content is also high in the same product. Despicably speaking, such a munch getting a five-star rating will be farcical. What would help consumers most is knowing what percentage of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) is met by what they consume. Of course, knowing whether a bar of chocolate meets 50%, 100% or 150% of the RDA for sugar and fat would certainly help.
- Sadly, FSSAI keeps this optional. Further, RDA claims of the packaged food industry need rigorous laboratory testing. Why not tax products high in sugar, salt, and fat higher while those low in these parameters get taxed lower? Should be seriously considered. Mind you, FOPL and regular tax hikes on cigarettes have helped disincentivise smoking. The impression gaining ground that FSSAI has put industry first rather than citizens must be dispelled too. The government must push FSSAI towards this.
