Packaged Food and Health Concerns | 20 May 2024

Source: TH

Why in News?

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) have highlighted the importance of carefully reading food labels to avoid health risks.

• Their recent report provides guidelines for healthy eating habits and warns against deceptive claims on packaged foods.

What are the Key Recommendations for a Healthier Lifestyle?

• Moderation in Consumption: The guidelines emphasise the need to use oil and fats in moderation and reduce the intake of salt and sugar.
  • They aim to lower the risk of coronary heart disease, hypertension, and up to 80% of type 2 diabetes cases can be prevented through a healthy lifestyle.
• Exercise and Physical Activity: Guidelines emphasise regular physical activity alongside a balanced diet to prevent diseases like obesity.
  • Reduced physical activity and increased consumption of highly processed foods exacerbate micronutrient deficiencies and overweight issues.
• Dietary Diversity and Nutrient Intake: The guidelines recommend sourcing macronutrients and micronutrients from a minimum of eight food groups to have a balanced diet.
  • The aim is to provide all nutritional requirements and prevent micronutrient deficiencies in all age groups.
• Limiting Ultra-Processed Foods: The guidelines emphasise the importance of limiting the consumption of ultra-processed or processed foods in the diet.
  • These instant food options are high in sugar, salt, and fat, which can be harmful to health, contribute to micronutrient deficiencies and exacerbate overweight issues.
• Informed Food Choices: The guidelines urge consumers to make a habit of checking food labels to enable them to make healthy food choices.
  • This habit can help prevent obesity by enabling consumers to avoid foods high in sugars, fats, and salts.
• Avoid Protein Supplements: The guidelines discourage the use of protein supplements to enhance muscle mass.
  • They note that dietary protein supplementation provides only a small increase in muscle strength and size, and the consumption of large amounts of high-protein supplements can lead to issues like bone mineral loss and kidney damage.

How can the Guidelines Benefit Populations?

• Pregnant Women and New Mothers: Access to additional nutritious food supports overall health for mother and baby, reducing the risk of complications.
• Infants and Young Children: Exclusive breastfeeding for six months supports optimal physical and cognitive development, followed by introduction of complementary foods.
• Children and Adolescents: Balanced diets support learning, growth, and physical activity for optimal development.
• Elderly People: Prioritising nutrient-rich foods addresses specific needs like bone health and immune function, improving quality of life.

How can Packaged Foods be Misleading?

• Attention-Grabbing Labels: Packaged foods often use labels designed to catch the consumer's eye and suggest health benefits, which can be misleading.
• 'Natural' Claims: Processed food, labelled as 'natural', may still contain preservatives and added colours.
  • The term is often loosely used to highlight one or two natural ingredients, leading to consumer confusion. Terms like "natural," "organic," and "sugar-free" can be ambiguous and misinterpreted by consumers, potentially leading to unhealthy choices.
  • Truly organic food should be free of preservatives, flavours, colors, pesticides, and chemical fertilisers. Only products meeting these criteria should use the 'Jaivik Bharat' logo approved by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
  • Making deceptive claims or advertisements are punishable offences under Section-53 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
• Packaged Juice Labels: According to FSSAI regulations, juices with as little as 10% natural fruit can be labelled as made with real pulp or juice, which can mislead consumers regarding the actual content.
• Fruit Ripening: Calcium carbide use for fruit ripening can be misleading on packaged foods because fruits ripened this way have health risks associated with it.
  • Calcium carbide releases acetylene gas, which contains harmful traces of arsenic and phosphorus, substances known as "Masala".
  • These can cause a range of health issues such as dizziness, frequent thirst, irritation, weakness, difficulty in swallowing, vomiting, and skin ulcers. Additionally, the acetylene gas itself is hazardous to those handling it.
  • Due to these dangers, the use of calcium carbide for ripening fruits has been banned under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011.
    • FSSAI has instead permitted the use of “ethylene gas” as a safer alternative for fruit ripening in India, as it is a naturally occurring hormone that regulates the ripening process.
• Contamination of Chemical: Nepal's recent ban on certain spice mixes from Indian brands along with Singapore and Hong Kong raises serious concerns about misleading packaging and potential health risks.
  • These products are suspected to be contaminated with ethylene oxide or EtO contamination, a chemical used for fumigation.
• Whole Grain Misrepresentation: Products may advertise whole grains but contain only a small percentage, with the rest being refined grains.

Way Forward

• Standardisation of Terminology: Implement clear definitions and standardised use of terms like "natural," "organic," and "sugar-free" to avoid ambiguity and misinterpretation by consumers.
  • Mandate food labels to clearly disclose all processing methods used, including information about potential contaminants.
• Nutritional Literacy: Incorporating nutritional literacy into school curricula to instil the habit of reading food labels and making informed food choices from a young age.
• Taxation and Subsidies: Implementing taxation on ultra-processed foods and providing subsidies for whole foods to make healthier options more affordable.
• Mobile Applications: Developing mobile applications that can scan product barcodes and provide a detailed analysis of nutritional content and health ratings.
• Meal Planning Tools: Develop and disseminate evidence-based dietary guidelines tailored to the Indian population. Provide accessible meal planning tools and resources to promote healthy, balanced diets.
• Health Policies: The guidelines support the goals of the National Nutrition Policy and complement government efforts to promote holistic nutrition and health.
  • Supporting local farmers' markets and promoting kitchen gardens can also increase access to fresh produce.