Ultra-processed food (UPF) is increasingly under fire with health experts warning that if India is to safeguard its people’s lives particularly children from the looming crisis of deadly non communicable diseases (NCDs), it should urgently and mandatorily adopt front-of-pack warning labels (FOPL) on all high-salt, sugar and fat containing edible items.
They have reasons. According to Euro monitor estimates, the sale of UPF has increased from 2 kg per capita in 2005 to 6kg in 2019 and is expected to grow to 8kg in 2024. Similarly, beverages have gone up from less than 2 Litres in 2005 to about 8 Litres in 2019 and are expected to grow to 10 Litres in 2024. Unchecked consumption of these UPF is leading the country's youth to overweight and obesity.
“Right-to-health is a fundamental right of every person. Therefore in Indian context, states are required to adopt regulatory measures such as front-of-package warning labelling on foods and beverages containing excessive amounts of wasteful nutrients such as sugar to tackle the rising burden of obesity and NCDs,” said Dr.Suneela Garg, President , Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine (IAPSM), at a webinar held here to push for FOPL as human right.
The discussion comes amid the background of the country’s top food regulator's, FSSAI, dilly dallying in implementation of the FOPLs which are still being discussed with the stakeholders.
Neha Khandpur, faculty of public health from University of Sao Paulo, Brazil’s Centre for Nutrition talked about global practices, asserting that “Warning labels have consistently been shown to be most effective at improving consumer understanding, at influencing their purchase decisions and at supporting healthy food choices. They also are most likely to encourage product reformulation. Warning labels are the strongest nutrient-based label that India should consider implementing”.
Dr Arun Gupta , convenor of Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPi), a national think tank working on nutrition policy, warned that “India is showing a tremendous rise in sales of UPF items both in the category of food and beverages.
“If we don't put a break to this rise now, India will join the club of obesity epidemic’s developed nations like UK and USA in the coming decade. Food industry is meant for making profits for their shareholders and will not comply unless our food and beverage regulators make it mandatory,” he said. Echoing similar views, Pushpa Girimaji, consumer rights columnist and consumer safety advocate pointed out that “the Consumer Protection Act of 2019 gave consumers the right to be protected from unsafe and unhealthy food through clear and unambiguous label information and appropriate warning in a manner that is easily comprehended by all, including those who cannot read or understand the label.”
She also talked about PILs filed in the Supreme Court in this regard that ensures the right to safe food as part of the right to life. According to the global data, nearly 5.8 million people or 1 in 4 Indians are at a risk of dying from an NCD before they reach the age of 70.
Ultra-processed foods are ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat items often high in added sugar, sodium, and carbohydrates, and low in fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals. They typically contain added sugars, hydrogenated oils, and flavor enhancers.