India wanted red flags on chip packets and soda. Big Food fought back
NEW DELHI/LONDON: A can of Fanta sold in London has 63 calories. Buy the same brand in India, and it contains three times as much sugar. It also includes artificial dye, whose presence in food products in Europe requires a prominent health warning. In India, the colorant’s presence is noted merely in small print on the back of the can. That suits some of the world’s biggest companies, which have…
In the Indian food market, consumer giants like Coca-Cola, which produces Fanta, have been successful in resisting efforts to mandate nutritional warnings on the front of packaged products. These companies argue that such warning labels are confusing and ineffective, as they do not encourage consumers to make healthier dietary choices.
India's food safety regulator recently abandoned a push for colorful warnings on the front of food packaging, opting instead for a black-and-white table of sugar, fat, and salt content. However, public health activists are challenging this decision at India's Supreme Court, citing the need for more transparency in labeling to combat obesity and overweight rates among Indians, which are projected to reach 450 million by 2050.
Experts argue that more transparent labeling can help establish healthier eating habits. While about 20 nations have adopted interpretive labels, Coca-Cola and Nestle have voluntarily implemented traffic-light-style labels in some European markets, emphasizing clear and transparent information. This industry's resistance to labeling changes suggests that they seek to protect their profits by withholding health information from Indian consumers.
Written by urgent.news from Business Recorder's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
