The seminar was primarily conducted to raise concerns on the over-consumption of sugar among consumers.
CIFTI-FICCI and Food Industry Asia (FIA) jointly hosted a seminar on Sweeteners- Innovative Ingredients for a Better Health in Bengaluru recently.
The seminar was primarily conducted to raise concerns on the over-consumption of sugar among consumers. With growing policy pressures to address the over-consumption of sugar, along with the rising epidemic of obesity and non-communicable diseases, the food industry is working to deliver solutions through healthier product innovation and reformulation particularly around reducing the sugar content in food and beverage (F&B) products. The industry globally has invested much of its efforts and resources in developing low-calorie sugar alternatives like Low/Non-Calorie Sweeteners (LNCS).
At the seminar, Steven Bartholomeusz, FIA’s Policy Director, spoke about the need to look at science-based evidence in making policy decisions concerning the use of sweeteners. “There is a lack of understanding among all stakeholders about the actual concept of sweeteners. These sweeteners can play a very important role in helping the industry in reformulating their products and address this issue of sugar over-consumption. At the same time, portion control also needs to be taken care of. Sugar over-consumption is not the only factor responsible for contributing to obesity, there are plenty other factors such as lifestyle management, lack of exercise etc.”, he said.
Bartholomeusz also moderated a panel session involving participation of industry players such as ITC, Mondelez International, and Cargill along with experts from Indian Dietetic Association, National Institute of Nutrition, Central Food Technological Research Institute and FSSAI.
To support science-based evidence on the safe use of LNCS, FIA has produced a white paper titled “The Case for a Little Sweetness: The Role of Low/Non-Calorie Sweeteners on Health” which serves to debunk the health- and safety-related myths sweeteners have been commonly linked with. It is the first in a series of communication tools FIA is developing with subject matter experts, to explore how sweeteners impact diet and health.