Labels of truth
5 years, 4 months ago

Labels of truth

Live Mint  

It is a battle between conscience and desire as supermarket shelves tempt shoppers with their selection of sweet-salty-deep-fried sins. “Every nutritionist I have spoken to advised against packaged food, even ones that come with tempting tags like low fat or zero sugar, because often these items might use substitutes that are far worse. Nutritional information on Indian packaged foods became mandatory in 2006, after Parliament passed the Food Safety and Standards Act and set up the authority, which formulates standards and regulates manufacture, storage and distribution. Last year, the FSSAI drew up a draft regulation that would make it mandatory to display red colour coding on labels of packaged products that have high-fat, high-sugar and high-salt content. Having said that, the colour coding as per FSSAI guidelines will go a long way in creating awareness among discerning consumers who are interested in maintaining good health,” says Mumbai-based clinical nutritionist Charmaine D’Souza.

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History of this topic

FSSAI Issues Advisory For E-Commerce Food Business Operators To Ensure Consumer Protection
1 week, 2 days ago

FSSAI Issues Advisory For E-Commerce Food Business Operators To Ensure Consumer Protection

Live Law  

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has issued directives on food safety norms to E-commerce Food Business Operators such as Swiggy, Zomato, Big Basket, etc. Considering the rapid growth of E-Commerce in the food sector and in larger consumer interest, the authority directed as follows: Training of delivery staff: Adequate training with respect to food safety and personal …

Packaged drinking water gets ‘High-Risk Food’ tag as FSSAI tightens safety norms. Here is what it means
1 month ago

Packaged drinking water gets ‘High-Risk Food’ tag as FSSAI tightens safety norms. Here is what it means

Live Mint  

In a major development related to the food industry, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has decided to classify packaged drinking and mineral water as a ‘High-Risk Food’ category. The FSSAI’s latest decision is aimed at improving the safety and quality standards of packaged drinking and mineral water for consumers. Earlier, the packaged drinking water industry had urged …

India rejects food imports from China, Japan, Sri Lanka, and more. Key details
1 month, 2 weeks ago

India rejects food imports from China, Japan, Sri Lanka, and more. Key details

India Today  

India has taken strict action against substandard food imports, rejecting consignments of items like apples, nuts, alcoholic beverages, and sushi from countries including China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Turkey. This platform helps authorities worldwide quickly share information about rejected food items, enabling swift action to prevent risks and ensure traceability and transparency. For instance, a cinnamon flower bud shipment …

India rejects food consignments from China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Turkey on food safety worries
1 month, 2 weeks ago

India rejects food consignments from China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Turkey on food safety worries

Live Mint  

New Delhi: India has rejected consignments of apples, nuts, alcoholic beverages and sushi from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Japan, China and Turkey this year because they fell short of the standards set by it. The apex food regulator—Food Safety Standard Authority of India – has made public the names of the countries on their recently launched Food Import Rejection Alert, a …

‘Food Pharmer’ suggests 3 things he would change as health minister: 'Warning labels on food packets'
1 month, 4 weeks ago

‘Food Pharmer’ suggests 3 things he would change as health minister: 'Warning labels on food packets'

Hindustan Times  

India is grappling with several health concerns, be it heart disease risks or diabetes. He often stresses the importance of making people aware of the misleading nutritional labels on food packets. Revant Himatsingka on Ranveer Allahbadia's podcast shared important strategies to make India more health-conscious and improve awareness. Food Pharmer stated, “We wouldn’t have been the diabetes capital if we …

TRUTH in Labeling Act would heighten the warning for shoppers
3 months, 3 weeks ago

TRUTH in Labeling Act would heighten the warning for shoppers

Salon  

With rising rates of obesity in the U.S. and increasing attention being paid to the health harms of processed foods, it's clear that far more could be done to help consumers make healthy food choices. If passed, it would require U.S. food manufacturers to add a second nutrition label to the front of product packages, in addition to the ones …

FSSAI says nutritional information must be highlighted with bigger fonts and bold letters
6 months ago

FSSAI says nutritional information must be highlighted with bigger fonts and bold letters

The Hindu  

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India approved changes in nutritional information labelling on packaged food items, proposing that total salt, sugar and saturated fat should be displayed in bold letters as well as bigger font size. In an official statement, FSSAI said it has approved "a proposal to display nutritional information regarding total sugar, salt and saturated fat in …

‘Fifty Shades of Food Advertising’: Government norms on high fat in food on backburner
6 months ago

‘Fifty Shades of Food Advertising’: Government norms on high fat in food on backburner

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: Misleading The study highlighted that marketing for unhealthy food and drinks often uses emotional appeals, celebrity endorsements, and sensory triggers to portray these products as appealing choices. In the process, they purposely conceal the list of ingredients used in these food and beverage products, which violates regulations, the study noted, making it crucial for public health officials, policymakers, …

Remove claim of ‘100% fruit juice’ from label and ads, FSSAI directs food businesses
7 months ago

Remove claim of ‘100% fruit juice’ from label and ads, FSSAI directs food businesses

The Hindu  

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has issued a directive mandating all Food Business Operators to remove any claim of ‘100% fruit juice’ from the labels and “It has come to the attention of FSSAI that several FBOs have been inaccurately marketing various types of reconstituted fruit juices by claiming them to be 100 per cent fruit juices,” …

Label claims on packaged food could be misleading: ICMR
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Label claims on packaged food could be misleading: ICMR

Hindustan Times  

New Delhi, Food labels on packaged items can be misleading, apex health research body ICMR has said stressing that consumers should read the information carefully to make informed and healthy choices. In its recently issued dietary guidelines, the Indian Council of Medical Research said health claims on packaged food are designed to catch the consumer attention and convince them that …

Govt plans to do away with multiple certifications for food products; only FSSAI nod mandatory
11 months ago

Govt plans to do away with multiple certifications for food products; only FSSAI nod mandatory

The Hindu  

The government has approved various amendments in food safety and standard regulations, under which only one certification from food regulator FSSAI will be required for food products. In a statement, the Health Ministry said the FSSAI in its 43rd meeting approved various amendments to streamline food safety and standards regulations. "Various amendments across different food safety and standards regulations were …

Food labels to have QR code to help the visually disabled
1 year, 2 months ago

Food labels to have QR code to help the visually disabled

The Hindu  

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has recommended the inclusion of QR code on food products for accessibility by visually impaired individuals stating that this will ensure access to safe food for all including individuals with special needs such as visually impaired individuals. The FSSAI under its Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2020 has comprehensively outlined the information …

Refrain from outdoor cooking, FSSAI tells sweet manufacturers in advisory for upcoming festive season
1 year, 3 months ago

Refrain from outdoor cooking, FSSAI tells sweet manufacturers in advisory for upcoming festive season

The Hindu  

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has directed manufacturers of sweets to refrain from outdoor cooking practices as they can expose food and raw materials to environmental contaminants and pose risks to food safety. “In view of the upcoming festive season, FSSAI convened a meeting with Indian sweets manufacturers to emphasise on the compliance to be followed to …

Quality standards form bedrock of food safety
1 year, 7 months ago

Quality standards form bedrock of food safety

Hindustan Times  

The great epic of Mahabharata tells us about Akshaya Patra, the divine copper vessel gifted by Lord Surya to the Pandavas during their 12-year exile. As we observe World Food Safety Day on June 7, we need to understand the importance of eating right and ensuring that the food is safe. Apart from pesticide residues and trace amounts of heavy …

Explained | Misleading food ads and regulations to curtail them
1 year, 8 months ago

Explained | Misleading food ads and regulations to curtail them

The Hindu  

The story so far: On April 29, the What has been FSSAI’s initial response? On which product category has the most number of violators, Ms Kapoor stated, “It is pretty much across all categories, I would not say that one subcategory is a dominant violator, it is pretty much spread across a bunch of different food categories and food.” What …

FSSAI finds 32 fresh cases in alleged contravention of the provisions of Food Safety and Standards rules
1 year, 8 months ago

FSSAI finds 32 fresh cases in alleged contravention of the provisions of Food Safety and Standards rules

The Hindu  

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s In a release, the FSSAI said that food products scrutinised included health supplements, organic products, fast moving consumer goods products, staples etc., and some of the As per the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2018, deceptive claims or The cases have referred to the concerned licensing authorities, directing that …

FSSAI asks for quality, safety checks on health supplements
1 year, 9 months ago

FSSAI asks for quality, safety checks on health supplements

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The food regulator has told food commissioners of all states and UTs to carry out a special drive to check nutraceuticals and health supplements for quality and safety throughout their manufacturing and sale process. India’s apex food regulator has received complaints about a large number of health supplements being sold in the markets not being compliant with the …

For Healthy Eating, Indians Wants Red Label Marked on Packs to Identify Ultra-Processed Foods: Survey
1 year, 11 months ago

For Healthy Eating, Indians Wants Red Label Marked on Packs to Identify Ultra-Processed Foods: Survey

News 18  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the importance of children eating nutritious food in his Mann Ki Baat address in 2020. Since then, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and other think tanks have been working on finalising a draft proposal on the star rating system to identify High Fat, Sugar and Salt Foods as ultra-processed foods. In …

FSSAI releases draft notification on star-rating for packaged food
2 years, 3 months ago

FSSAI releases draft notification on star-rating for packaged food

The Hindu  

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has issued a draft notification on front-of-package labelling, which proposes “Indian Nutrition Rating” modelled on the health star-rating system. The draft of the amended Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2020 made public on Tuesday requires packaged food to display the prescribed format of INR by assigning a rating from 1/2 star to …

Obesity in children: Paediatricians bat for nutrient-specific labels on packaged food
2 years, 3 months ago

Obesity in children: Paediatricians bat for nutrient-specific labels on packaged food

Hindustan Times  

Mumbai Paediatricians from around the country are batting for inclusion of nutrient-specific warning labels on packaged foods as a way to counter the obesity pandemic among Indian children. According to the National Family Health Survey 5 conducted in 2019-2020, 3.4% of all children under five in India are overweight, as compared to 2.1% in NHFS4 They recommend easy-to-interpret symbols to …

Most people favour inclusion of front of pack warning label on food items
2 years, 4 months ago

Most people favour inclusion of front of pack warning label on food items

Live Mint  

New Delhi: Over 91% people favour consumer friendly front of pack labelling on packaged food items, the findings of an online poll showed. ’High-in’ warning labels, considered the simplest and easiest to read FOPL design, is the one most preferred by consumers as it helps them make healthier food choices. It will also help to reduce the burden of Non- …

Warning label most effective in identifying harmful nutrients: Study
2 years, 4 months ago

Warning label most effective in identifying harmful nutrients: Study

The Hindu  

A new study in India has found that warning labels on food packets are most effective in helping consumers identify foods high in sugar, saturated fat and sodium as compared to other labelling formats. The authors conducted an in-person randomised experiment on 2,869 adults in six States in India, where participants were shown food packets with one of five FOPLs—a …

Explained | What is the debate around star ratings for food packets mooted by FSSAI?
2 years, 8 months ago

Explained | What is the debate around star ratings for food packets mooted by FSSAI?

The Hindu  

The story so far: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is expected to issue a draft regulation for labels on front of food packets that will inform consumers if a product is high in salt, sugar and fat. Health experts are demanding that the FSSAI instead recommend the “warning label” system which has proven to have altered consumer …

FSSAI’s star ratings for food products may mislead consumers: experts
2 years, 8 months ago

FSSAI’s star ratings for food products may mislead consumers: experts

The Hindu  

The nutrition labelling system for food packets recommended by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India will not only fail to enable consumers to make healthy choices but also mislead them about their nutritional value, warned experts who have called for the need to “insulate” policy making from the influence of the food industry. Under the health star rating …

Experts question ‘star rating’ of food products likely to be recommended by FSSAI for packaged food
2 years, 8 months ago

Experts question ‘star rating’ of food products likely to be recommended by FSSAI for packaged food

The Hindu  

The “health star rating” system that the Food Safety Standards Authority of India plans to adopt in order to help consumers reduce their intake of unhealthy foods is “not evidence-based” and has failed to alter buyer behaviour, claim over 40 global experts in a letter to Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. In a meeting on February 15, 2022, the FSSAI …

'Many Food Articles Having Ingredients Sourced From Animals Are Passed Off As Veg': Delhi HC Orders Full Disclosure Of Manufacturing Ingredients
3 years ago

'Many Food Articles Having Ingredients Sourced From Animals Are Passed Off As Veg': Delhi HC Orders Full Disclosure Of Manufacturing Ingredients

Live Law  

Observing that many food articles which have ingredients sourced from animals are passed off as vegetarian by affixing the green dot, the Delhi High Court has directed that there should be full and complete disclosure of all the ingredients which go into the manufacture of any food article.Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Jasmeet Singh was of the view that the …

Experts call for nutritional labelling regulations
3 years, 2 months ago

Experts call for nutritional labelling regulations

The Hindu  

The need for faster implementation of regulations related to front-of-pack labelling was stressed during an online discussion organised by the Citizen consumer and civic Action Group in association with Women’s Christian College on Friday. Citing the example of using green and yellow to mark vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, Ms. Saroja said a similar simpler system was needed to show whether …

AIIMS doctors call for front of pack labelling, scientific limits on sugar, salt and fats in junk food
3 years, 6 months ago

AIIMS doctors call for front of pack labelling, scientific limits on sugar, salt and fats in junk food

Firstpost  

If we want to control the diabetes epidemic in India, we have to actnow, the doctors said, adding that diabetics are likely to be at a greater risk of fatalities from COVID-19 New Delhi: Leading doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences have called for a systemic approach to manage the rapidly rising prevalence of diabetes in the …

A Difficult Road Ahead For Restaurant Chains Under The FSSAI's Labelling Radar
3 years, 6 months ago

A Difficult Road Ahead For Restaurant Chains Under The FSSAI's Labelling Radar

Live Law  

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is all set to extend its labelling regime to restaurant chains operating in multiple states or having outlets at 10 or more locations from 1st January, 2022. The FSSAI has included restaurant chains under its labelling regime vide notification dated 21st August, 2020 amending the erstwhile Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011. …

Indians May Need to Cut Salt-Sugar-Fat From Diet to Avoid Non-Communicable Diseases
3 years, 7 months ago

Indians May Need to Cut Salt-Sugar-Fat From Diet to Avoid Non-Communicable Diseases

News 18  

India’s crippling second wave of Covid-19 may be getting all of the attention now, but it is critical that we do not overlook the silent but deadly killer that has emerged as the leading cause of death over the last two decades. Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India along with the Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest, Epidemiological Foundation of India and …

Why is it taking so long to label fast food?
5 years ago

Why is it taking so long to label fast food?

The Hindu  

The story so far: The Centre for Science and Environment unveiled a new study this week which showed that salt and fat in an array of “junk food” was well above proposed regulatory thresholds. However, the findings are significant as the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is yet to make into law draft regulations on setting limits, and …

Display of ’trans-fat free’ logo on food items voluntary:FSSAI
5 years, 5 months ago

Display of ’trans-fat free’ logo on food items voluntary:FSSAI

Live Mint  

Bakeries, sweet shops and other food business operators can voluntarily display 'trans fat free' logo on food products and in their outlets, according to the food safety regulator FSSAI. The logo 'trans-fat free' can be used provided the food establishments uses trans-fat free fats oils, and do not have industrial trans-fat more than 0.2 gram per 100 gram of the …

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