Red Mark : The government is preparing to make major changes regarding packaged food. If the amount of sugar, salt or saturated fat in a packaged food exceeds the prescribed limit, a large red warning sign will be placed on the front of the package. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed this new labeling system in an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court.
According to media reports, a red hexagon or six-pointed symbol will be placed on the front of the package. It will look like a ‘stop sign’. This is intended to make it easier for consumers to understand whether a package is high in sugar, salt or fat before opening or buying a product.
Warning written on the package
If a product exceeds the prescribed limit, the package will be marked ‘High Sugar’, ‘High Salt’ or ‘High Fat’ in large, clear letters. This information will be clearly displayed on the front of the package. The font used for this purpose should be at least one point larger than the font size of the information in the nutrition table.
This rule is proposed to be implemented in two phases. In the first phase, this warning will be applied to packaged foods that exceed the limits set for at least two ingredients: sugar, salt or fat. In the second phase, the rule will be made more stringent. Even if the amount of an ingredient exceeds the prescribed limit, a red warning label will be required.
The court raised questions
The whole issue has come up amid the ongoing debate about packaged food and children’s health. While hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by an NGO called ‘3S and Our Health Society’, the Supreme Court expressed concern over the rising obesity among children. The court also questioned why the content of sugar, salt and fat in a food product is not clearly declared on the package. Following this, the government has proposed changes in the labeling rules through FSSAI.
There will be ease at the time of food shopping
Food and Drugs Administration Commissioner of Maharashtra, Tukaram Munde, has urged food companies to be more responsible for the health of their consumers than just following the rules. However, some organizations and companies in the food industry have raised concerns about some aspects of the proposed rules. Groups associated with Coca-Cola, Nestle and PepsiCo have also objected to some of the provisions. The proposal also seeks exemption for some essential food items. Single-ingredient products such as ghee, oil, salt, sugar, jaggery and honey are proposed to be excluded from front-of-pack warning labels. If this system is implemented, it will be easier for consumers to understand whether packaged food is high in sugar, salt or fat content while buying it.
