It's time for science-based front-of-pack labelling, says industry leaders

Guwahati: The rising sales of ultra-processed food in India have worried food experts about its impact on the prevalence of non-communicable diseases NCDs in India.

Consumers' Legal Protection Forum, Assam, in association with Consumer VOICE, New Delhi, industry leaders, doctors and government officials from Assam called for simple, mandatory and interpretive front-of-pack labels on food and beverages. Simple warnings can help consumers make informed choices and be the first step towards a healthy food system.

As per the latest NFHS 5 data, non-communicable diseases account for 65 per cent of total deaths in India. Dr Munindra Narayan Baruah, Director, North East Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, said, "High burden of diabetes, obesity, stroke and cardiovascular diseases have links with increased consumption of unhealthy packaged foods that are high in salt, sugar and fats that are readily available in the market."

India has the title of the diabetes capital of the world with the figure expected to rise to an alarming mark of 69.9 million by 2025 and 80 million by 2030. With 1 in every 4 persons obese, according to NFHS 5, early adoption of the right food labels will help consumers make healthy food choices. Warning labels with high signs are an effective tool for identifying unhealthy foods.

Representatives of popular edible oil, FMCG, confectionery, snacks and sweets like Repose, Sitajakhala, and Nivaz recognized the need for effective measures in curbing the rising incidence of NCDs in the state. As important stakeholders for a healthy nation, they lent their support to a people-friendly FOPL. Swapan Nath, General Manager, REPOSE said, "We are committed to ensuring healthy food to our consumers and will take necessary steps as guided by FSSAI and the scientific community in ensuring that our products meet global standards."

"A key step in this is to ensure that ingredients that like salt, sugar, and fats are used within permissible global limits," Dr Birendra Kumar Das, Chairman, NIVAZ, said in a press release.

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