Noting that ultra-processed foods such as packaged baked goods and snacks, fizzy drinks and sugary cereals — often containing high levels of added sugar, fat, and/or salt, but lacking in vitamins and fibre--are creating havoc with the health of kids, doctors and experts have urged the Government to fix scientific limits and labelling for salt, sugar, saturated fats and other harmful ingredients in such products.
They pointed out that India has more than 14.4 million obese kids and Covid-induced changing lifestyle is all set to push the number to alarming 17 million by 2025 if they are not provided safety nets such as ensuring front of pack labels (FOPL) on these products to help make informed choices, ban on television and internet ads promoting unhealthy food before kids programme.
“Usually, an increased consumption of unhealthy or processed food coupled with physical inactivity leads to this preventable condition. It is fast emerging as the most serious public health challenge,” Dr. Naveen Thacker, President Elect, International Pediatrics Association (IAP), said during an online webinar session on ‘Challenge of Child Obesity and Packaged Food during Covid pandemic in India.’
Sharing a presentation prepared by Dr Praveen Gupta, President IAP, he explained that “along with tobacco, alcohol and physical activity, an unhealthy diet is strongly linked with NCDs, which are a major challenge in India.”
Recently, the World Health Assembly (WHA) globally agreed framework for evidence-based cut-offs for anti-nutrients like sugar, salt and saturated fat present in packaged food.
“In India, there are many guidelines related to consumption of foods and drinks for children, but there is a need for policy recommendations and implementation,” said Dr Thacker.
In Corona times, obesity has increased among children due to lifestyle changes; their physical activities are restricted to bare minimum due to lockdown restrictions and closure of schools. It’s time that the government introduces front-of-package labelling (FOPL). Lip service will not help, he asserted.
The WHO has identified FOPL as "one of the policy tools that can support healthy diets." So far 11 countries across the world have enacted laws making FOPL mandatory while India is still holding consultations with various stakeholders to find a viable model, he added.
Dr Arun Gupta, pediatrician and ex-member of the Prime Minister’s Nutrition Council said, there are various studies that show that 10 per cent increase in the consumption of Ultra processed food increases the chances of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer by approximately 10 per cent.
"It is not good to always blame people that they are not eating the right food. The government and food industry should also be equally held accountable to ensure the health of children and enable a nutritious food system for them. For this, strong legislation backed by the will to implement is needed," he asserted.
Senior journalist Vijay Jha opined that there was a need to curb marketing strategies of the food industry while the government should come out with strong legislations and create awareness among people about the health hazards of the junk food.