New Delhi: More than 91% people are in favor of consumer friendly Front of Pack Labeling (FOPL) on packaged foods, according to the findings of an online survey.
The ‘high-in’ warning label, which is considered the simplest and easiest to read FOPL design, is most preferred by consumers as it helps them make healthier food choices. More than 20,000 respondents participated in the survey, which provided timely insights on consumer choices.
The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will soon release the much-awaited draft regulation on food labels. Mint in a report on March 3 quoted Arun Singhal, Chief Executive Officer, FSSAI as saying, “FOPL will bring about a transformational reform in the society as it will encourage healthy eating. It will reduce the burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the country. will also help.”
When asked whether they would feel safe if packaged foods had simple warning labels indicating fat, salt and sugar levels in excess of the limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO), 99% of respondents said positive. responded to. Additionally, more than 95% of people want food packets to have warning labels that clearly indicate fat, salt, and sugar levels. It may be noted that WHO has set scientific limits on fat, sugar and salt in packaged foods to protect the health of consumers.
FOPL is a simple, but important tool that can help consumers make healthier food choices. Manish Tewari, director of the Institute for Governance Policy and Politics (IGPP), said, “The purpose of these clear warning labels on processed food packets is to inform consumers about the content of sugar, sodium and saturated fat which can help discourage unhealthy consumption. can help. food items.”
It is a known fact that nutrients of concern – high sugar, sodium, saturated fat and excess trans-fats – can have adverse health effects. Excessive consumption of foods and beverages with high levels of these nutrients of concern not only leads to obesity, but also increases the risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and premature death.
According to the Global Nutrition Report 2021, the risks associated with the consumption of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) along with an unbalanced and unhealthy diet resulted in about 12 million premature deaths in 2018.
India is also facing an alarming rise in NCDs, including diabetes and obesity, which are taking a toll on the country’s health system. About 15 million Indian children suffer from childhood obesity. Moreover, according to WHO, about 58 lakh Indians die every year due to preventive NCDs.
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