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Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (India) is taking a step forward to mark food items which high on salt, sugar and saturated fat as junk food. The food regulator has carved this plan to curb down the prevailing high rate of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity etc. among the Indians.
According to sources, FSSAI is considering labels for such foods, and in the coming months, it would come out with the necessary regulations. Many people opined that this was the result of the prolong battle between the industry and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and mediated by the government and the judiciary. FSSAI has already issued draft guidelines on availability of wholesome and nutritious food in schools to control junk food consumption among children.
The draft guidelines propose to restrict sale or availability of food which are high in fat, salt or sugar content within 50 metres of schools’ premises. This includes an array of food and beverages consumed by school children including chips, ready-to-eat noodles, pizzas, burgers, sugar-sweetened carbonated and non-carbonated drinks, potato fries (commonly called French fries) and confectionery items.
While the move has got appreciation in most of the government domains, but it is not welcomed by the industry experts and people indulge in the food business. One of the sweet mart owners in Rajasthan commented, “The major drawback is that smaller players, to which the government is giving a platform, will be affected. The major brands in the processed food category have introduced their healthy or diet variants, but for these small players it will be difficult to sustain.”
“Even if the labelling will not state directly that it is junk food, I am sure the regulator will come up with labelling products as high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt, etc. Even this will affect players on a wider scale. Not every product is healthy. If you go by science, anything which is in excess will cause harm when it comes to food,” he stretched further.