Express press service
AHMEDABAD: Packaged food is deadly and responsible for many health problems, it is necessary to clearly mention the amount of harmful elements like salt and fatty sugar used in crisps, noodles, chocolate and ice cream in food. ‘packaging.
The Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar (IIPHG) has pointed out that more than 5.8 million Indians die every year from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension and diseases cardiovascular.
Although difficult to treat, many of these deadly diseases can be prevented by mentioning the harmful elements in packaged foods.
According to the IIPHG, packaged foods, in addition to being ultra-processed, are often high in harmful ingredients – sugar, salt and bad fats. A front-of-package label (FOPL) that warns people of products high in these negative nutrients associated with the burden of non-communicable diseases in India, is the need of the hour Dr. Dileep Mavalankar Director, IIPHG Says the India must adopt a packaging label (FOPL) for packaged food that is “best suited to its people”
Dr Bina Vadalia, Deputy Director, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Gujarat. “Unhealthy diet is responsible for more deaths worldwide than any other risk factor and is a leading cause of obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Indian food and beverage industry is one of the largest in the world with a sales volume of 34 million tons.
“Studies have shown that in Indian households, children – both urban and rural – consume very large amounts of crisps, instant noodles, chocolates and ice creams. Ultra-processed foods and beverages that contain sugar, salt, and saturated fat far above the recommended thresholds make our children vulnerable to NCDs at high levels. As science recommends, we must ensure that all packaged foods available on the market have thresholds for harmful ingredients.
Gujarat snack maker Satyen Shah said: “The packaged food industry, which is growing at a record pace in India, is poised to play a proactive role in building a healthier food system for our country. I am convinced that a strong FOPL will help us convey nutritional information to our consumers in a simple and effective way. »
Kavita Sardana, Advisor, Adani Foundation, said: “The adoption of an effective, preferably interpretive, simple, credible, comprehensive and sympathetic FOPL, which should influence the purchase decision, is an essential policy tool. If we want to protect the health of our youth and children, it’s time to fix the food system. The FSSAI initiated this very important process. We hope it can soon adopt a simple, interpretive FOPL that is consumer-friendly and sets limits on the amount of anti-nutrients such as salt, sugar, and fat.
As India awaits FOPL regulation from the FSSAI, doctors and health experts have warned that getting it right will be essential. Although there are several designs to choose from – warning labels, traffic light system, Nutri-score, GDA and Health Star Rating (HSR), research and consumer surveys indicate that warning labels outperform all other labels in their ability to help consumers make healthy choices.
Anindita Mehta, well-known consumer rights expert and Chief Executive Director of the Center for Consumer Education and Research (CERC), said: “Research shows that labels that only highlight nutrients of concern, c ie warning labels, are the most effective in protecting public health. These kinds of easy-to-read food labels can have immediate public health benefits — all the more reason why India, which accounts for 25% of the global burden of heart disease, needs to get it right the first time. The FOPL regulation should be made mandatory and implemented within a specified time frame. Ms. Anindita Mehta was a member of the FSSAI Advisory Committee on OFPL.
Experts pointed to a front-of-package label during a rally in Gandhinagar, organized by the Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar. Senior government officials, academics, public health experts, members of industry and civil society have issued a series of recommendations as India prepares to introduce FOPL regulations. Highlighting the critical role food labels can play in protecting crores at risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), experts said OFPL should be mandatory, have “high” style warnings and have thresholds scientists for salt, sugar, and fats.
AHMEDABAD: Packaged food is deadly and responsible for many health problems, it is necessary to clearly mention the amount of harmful elements like salt and fatty sugar used in crisps, noodles, chocolate and ice cream in food. ‘packaging. The Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar (IIPHG) has pointed out that more than 5.8 million Indians die every year from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension and diseases cardiovascular. Although difficult to treat, many of these deadly diseases can be prevented by mentioning the harmful elements in packaged foods. According to the IIPHG, packaged foods, in addition to being ultra-processed, are often high in harmful ingredients – sugar, salt and bad fats. A front-of-package label (FOPL) that warns people of products high in these negative nutrients associated with the burden of non-communicable diseases in India, is the need of the hour Dr. Dileep Mavalankar Director, IIPHG Says the India needs to adopt a package label (FOPL) for packaged food that is “best suited to its people”, said Dr Bina Vadalia, Deputy Director, Department of Health and Family Welfare , Government of Gujarat. “Unhealthy diet is responsible for more deaths worldwide than any other risk factor and is a leading cause of obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Indian food and beverage industry is one of the largest in the world with a sales volume of 34 million tons.”Studies have shown that in Indian households, children – both urban and rural – consume very large quantities of crisps, instant noodles, chocolates and ice cream.Ultra-processed foods and beverages that contain sugar, salt and saturated fat far above the recommended thresholds make our children vulnerable to NCDs at high levels.As science recommends, we need to ensure that all packaged foods available in the market have thresholds for harmful ingredients Gujarat snack manufacturer Satyen Shah said: “The packaged food industry, which i is growing at a record pace in India, is poised to play a proactive role in building a healthier food system for our country. I am convinced that a strong FOPL will help us convey nutritional information to our consumers in a simple and effective way. Kavita Sardana, Advisor, Adani Foundation, said: “The adoption of an effective, preferably interpretive, simple, credible, comprehensive and sympathetic FOPL, which should influence the purchase decision, is an essential policy tool. If we want to protect the health of our youth and children, it’s time to fix the food system. The FSSAI initiated this very important process. We hope it can soon adopt a simple, interpretive FOPL that is consumer-friendly and sets limits on the amount of anti-nutrients such as salt, sugar, and fat. As India awaits FOPL regulation from the FSSAI, doctors and health experts have warned that getting it right will be essential. Although there are several designs to choose from – warning labels, traffic light system, Nutri-score, GDA and Health Star Rating (HSR), research and consumer surveys indicate that warning labels outperform all other labels in their ability to help consumers make healthy choices. Anindita Mehta, well-known consumer rights expert and Chief Executive Director of the Center for Consumer Education and Research (CERC), said: “Research shows that labels that only highlight nutrients of concern, c ie warning labels, are the most effective in protecting public health. These kinds of easy-to-read food labels can have immediate public health benefits — all the more reason why India, which accounts for 25% of the global burden of heart disease, needs to get it right the first time. The FOPL regulation should be made mandatory and implemented within a specified time frame. Ms. Anindita Mehta was a member of the FSSAI Advisory Committee on OFPL. Experts pointed to a front-of-package label during a rally in Gandhinagar, organized by the Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar. Senior government officials, academics, public health experts, members of industry and civil society have issued a series of recommendations as India prepares to introduce FOPL regulations. Highlighting the critical role food labels can play in protecting crores at risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), experts said OFPL should be mandatory, have “high” style warnings and have thresholds scientists for salt, sugar, and fats.
