TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
THE CONTEXT: Recently, the spotlight has returned on high sugar content in flavoured malt-based milk powders and baby food. Government authorities are warning against branding such items as “healthy” and have called out the allegedly misleading promotion and marketing tactics while loading products with added sugar.
EXPLANATION:
Sugar Content in Processed Foods
- Processed foods, particularly flavored malt-based milk powders and baby food, have come under scrutiny due to their high sugar content.
- Government authorities caution against labeling such items as “healthy” while their promotion and marketing tactics allegedly mislead consumers by concealing added sugars.
- For example, a popular malt-based drink like Bournvita contains significant amounts of carbohydrates and sugars, with a notable portion being added sugar.
- The malting process itself generates sugars, further contributing to the product’s high sugar content.
FSSAI’s Standards and Regulations
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulates sugar, salt, and fat content in food items, especially malt-based milk beverages and baby food.
- FSSAI’s regulations stipulate that products claiming to be “low on sugar” must contain less than 5g of total sugar per 100g.
- However, many products fail to meet this criterion while marketing themselves as “health drinks,” potentially leading consumers, especially children, to exceed recommended sugar intake limits.
Controversy Over Baby Food
- The controversy extends to baby food, where products like Cerelac contain significant sugar levels, raising concerns about early exposure to high-sugar diets in infants.
- The addition of ingredients like maltodextrin for flavor and texture exacerbates the issue, as it has a higher glycemic index than table sugar.
- Excess sugar consumption in infants can strain the pancreas, potentially leading to diabetes and obesity later in life.
- Despite regulations, some companies continue to market such products as suitable for infants, violating established guidelines.
FSSAI’s Regulatory Measures
- In September 2022, FSSAI proposed draft regulations targeting high-fat, sugar, salt (HFSS) foods.
- These regulations aim to inform consumers about the nutritional content of products through front-of-the-pack labeling.
- However, the effectiveness of such measures remains uncertain, as the regulations lack clarity on whether companies must disclose fat, sugar, and salt content on product packaging.
- Additionally, the introduction of health rating stars as an alternative to warning labels has drawn criticism from experts, who argue that such ratings may mislead consumers.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI):
- It is an autonomous body established under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
- The FSSAI has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which is a consolidating statute related to food safety and regulation in India.
- Vision: Build a new India by enabling citizens to have safe and nutritious food, prevent diseases, and lead a healthy and happy life.
- Mission: Set globally benchmarked standards for food, encourage and ensure that food businesses adhere to these standards, adopt good manufacturing and hygiene practices, and ultimately enable citizens to access safe and right food.