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In a series of meetings held internally, the FDA has decided that restaurants must start mentioning the calorie count of each item mentioned on the menu. The brainchild of FDA commissioner Pallavi Darade, the plan will be sent to the state government for final approval, after suggestions from all stakeholders are taken into consideration.
FDA officials will be holding meetings with representatives from the food and packaging industry, scientists, restaurateurs, nutritionists, dieticians and obstetricians before making the final proposal, which is expected to be sent to the state government in a couple of months. FDA officials are also conducting their own research and market analysis for the project.
Elaborating on the plan, Darade said, “People are certainly getting more conscious of their health, but they are still not aware about the calories they are consuming while ordering a meal in a restaurant. The public should be able to make an informed decision while placing an order. Also, this way, the hotel industry will also be more aware about the calorie content in their dishes. It may not be exact, but patrons will still know their calorie intake.”
“It’s been shocking to see the rise in obesity among children. This plan may not be the only solution, but it’s a start. Hoteliers and restaurateurs should voluntarily come forward and start stating the calories in their food,” she further said, reports Mumbai Mirror.
This decision comes in order to combat rising obesity and its subsequent effects. A sedentary lifestyle and easy access to high-calorie food has led to a rise in people prone to diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, osteoarthritis and even certain types of cancers.