What’s in Today’s Article?

• About the Report (Key Findings, Significance for India, Recommendations, etc.)
• About FSSAI (Objective, Functions, Composition, etc.)

Overview:

• A report by the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNi) highlights the disparities in the healthiness of food and beverage (F&B) products sold in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) compared to high-income countries (HICs).
• This brings attention to the importance of labelling packaged food to guide consumers toward healthier choices.

Key Findings of the Report:

• Health Star Rating System:
  • The report analysed over 52,000 products from major brands like Nestle, PepsiCo, Unilever, and others.
  • Products were rated out of 5 stars, with scores above 3.5 considered healthy.
  • Average scores:
    • LMICs: 1.8
    • HICs: 2.3
• Disparities in Nutrition:
• Fewer affordable healthy options in LMICs.
• Micronutrient information was less frequently provided for products in LMICs.
• Historical Patterns:
  • Previous reports revealed similar issues. For instance, Nestlé's baby food in India and African markets contained higher sugar levels compared to European versions, sparking government scrutiny.

Significance for India:

• Health Crisis:
  • Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): India faces a significant burden, with over 10 crore people suffering from diabetes and high obesity rates.
  • Undernutrition and Micronutrient Deficiencies: Coexisting challenges due to unhealthy diets and economic disparities.
• Dietary Patterns:
  • Rising consumption of processed foods rich in sugar and fat.
  • Over 56% of India’s disease burden is linked to unhealthy diets (ICMR, 2023).
• Affordability Gap:
  • Over half of Indians cannot afford a healthy diet.
  • Household spending on processed foods is increasing.

Importance of Front-of-Pack Labelling:

• Global Standards:
  • Countries like Chile and Mexico successfully reduced consumption of sugary beverages after mandatory front-of-pack labelling (FOPL).
• India’s Current Efforts:
  • India is part of World Health Assembly resolutions advocating for protecting children from junk food marketing.
  • Policies like the National Multisectoral Action Plan (2017-2022) aimed at tackling NCDs have seen limited success in implementing labeling regulations.
• Challenges:
  • The 2022 Draft Notification for FOPL is yet to make progress.
  • Voluntary efforts by F&B companies have been insufficient.

Recommendations by the Report:

• Mandatory Regulations:
  • Stronger policies for clear labelling of sugar, salt, and fat content on packaging.
• Public Awareness:
  • Campaigns to educate consumers on interpreting nutritional labels.
• Affordable Healthy Options:
  • Incentivizing companies to offer nutritious products at accessible prices for low-income groups.
• Government Action:
  • Strengthening enforcement and adopting global best practices for food labelling.

What is the Indian Nutritional Rating (INR) System?

• The INR system rates the overall nutritional profile for packaged food by assigning it a rating from ½ star (least healthy) to 5 stars (healthiest).
• More stars indicate the food product is better positioned to provide for daily human need of nutrients.
• As per the notification, solid food with a score of more than 25 will be given 0.5 stars, and those with a score less than – (minus)11 will get 5 stars.
• To generate the star-rating logo for the product, food businesses have to submit nutritional profiles of the products concerned on FSSAI’s portal.

FSSAI:

• About
• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is a statutory body under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
• Objectives:
• To lay down science-based standards for articles of food
• To regulate manufacture, storage, distribution, import and sale of food
• To facilitate safety of food
• Role/Functions of FSSAI:
• Framing of Regulations to lay down the standards/guidelines in relation to articles of food.
• Laying down mechanisms/guidelines for accreditation of certification bodies engaged in certification of food safety management system.
• Collect and collate data regarding food consumption, incidence and prevalence of biological risk, contaminants in food, etc.
• Creating an information network across the country so that public receive reliable and objective information about food safety and issues of concern.
• Provide training programmes for persons who are involved or intend to get involved in food businesses.
• Contribute to the development of international technical standards for food, sanitary and phytol-sanitary standards.
• Composition
• The FSSAI comprises of a Chairperson and twenty-two members out of which one – third are to be women.
• The Chairperson of FSSAI is appointed by the Central Government.
• Concerned Ministry: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
• At State level:
• The FSSAI appoints food safety authorities at the state level.
• The primary responsibility for enforcement is largely with the State Food Safety Commissioners.