Should Packaged Food Content Be Labelled?

Table of Contents

Context

The Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNi) has released its 5th edition of the Global Access to Nutrition Index.
The report revealed that F&B companies sell less healthy products in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) compared to those in high-income countries (HICs).

What were the Key Findings?

The healthiness score for products in LMICs averaged 1.8 which is significantly lower than the 2.3 average in HICs.
It was noted that micronutrient data was less available for products in LMICs compared to those sold in HICs.

Fact

In April 2024, a report by Swiss NGO Public Eye and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) indicated that Nestlé’s baby food products sold in India and other LMICs contained higher sugar levels than those sold in European markets.

Health Star Rating System

The report utilised a health star rating system to evaluate products, scoring them out of 5. A score above 3.5 is considered a healthier choice.
The rating system takes into account:
Components increasing health risks: energy, saturated fat, total sugars, and sodium.
Components decreasing health risks: protein, fibre, and the presence of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes.

Significance of the Report for India

Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Burden: India faces an escalating NCD burden, with approximately 13 crore Indians suffering from diabetes.
- According to National Family Health Survey 5 (NFHS-5), 24% of women and 23% of men in India are obese.
- At the same time, undernutrition, anaemia, and micronutrient deficiencies continue to be pressing concerns.
Dietary Shifts: The upsurge in consumption of processed foods rich in sugars and fats, coupled with reduced physical activity, has contributed significantly to these health problems.
- The Economic Survey of India 2023-24 noted that 4% of India’s disease burden is linked to unhealthy diets, as per the Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR) dietary guidelines.
- ICMR findings suggest that processed food consumption is exacerbating micronutrient deficiencies and increasing rates of overweight and obesity in India.
Affordability Issues: Over 50% of Indians cannot afford a healthy diet, with households spending an increasing proportion of their food budgets on processed foods.

Food Packaging and Labelling Challenges in India

In 2017, India launched the National Multisectoral Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Common NCDs (NMAP), but progress on addressing front-of-pack food labelling has been slow.
Activists have long urged the Indian government to implement regulations for front-of-package labelling that would indicate high levels of sugar, fat, and sodium.
- A draft notification for Food Safety and Standards (Labelling & Display) Amendment Regulation 2022 has been introduced, but it has not made significant progress in two years.
The mandatory labelling voluntary efforts by companies have been insufficient.
A Nutrition Advocacy for Public Interest (NAPi) analysis of 43 advertisements for pre-packaged food revealed that these products were often high in unhealthy nutrients, such as saturated fat.

Facts

Chile and Mexico have shown that mandatory labelling on packaged food led to a reduction in the consumption of sugary beverages.
India is a party to the World Health Assembly (WHA) resolutions, which advocate for reducing the marketing of unhealthy foods to children and protecting them from harmful food marketing.

Conclusion

The ATNi report underscores significant health risks posed by the consumption of unhealthy food products, especially in LMICs like India.
The report highlights disparities in the healthiness of food products across different markets and emphasises the need for stronger regulations around food labelling and pricing to ensure access to healthier food options, particularly for lower-income populations.
India’s growing NCD burden and affordability issues make it crucial for the government to adopt stronger policies, including mandatory labelling and more equitable pricing of healthy foods to combat the rise of diet-related diseases.