FSSAI’s proposed warning labels could let unhealthy foods escape scrutiny, says expert
Under the proposal to have red hexagonal warning labels on packaged foods, areas requiring scrutiny include the nutrient threshold, the timeline of the second phase, the definition of HFSS (foods high in fat, sugar, salt), the use of ‘added’ nutrients, the size of the warning label, and exemptions
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recently proposed red hexagonal warning labels for packaged foods high in sugar, salt, and saturated fat. However, nutrition expert Arun Gupta asserts that several key gaps in the framework could fail to effectively warn consumers about unhealthy products. The proposal, spurred by the Supreme Court's intervention, requires a product to be high in two or more nutrients of concern to trigger a warning.
Dr. Gupta contends that this "two or more" threshold is a major flaw, as it could leave products high in a single nutrient unlabelled. He argues for a straightforward approach: "High in sugar — warning; high in salt — warning; high in saturated fat — warning." Additionally, Gupta questions the use of "added" nutrients and suggests adhering to a clear, scientifically robust definition of unhealthy foods.
He also objects to the proposed label size, stating it should be prominently visible, aligned with the package's principal display area. Gupta calls for the warning labels to be bilingual, in Hindi and English, and for the framework to be evaluated on its ability to deliver clear, visible, and scientifically sound risk indicators to consumers.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu - Sci-Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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