Attractive packaging, great taste and brand popularity can influence people to buy and consume packaged foods that may not be the best for their health. In a bid to create awareness among consumers about the packaged foods they buy and eat, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has approved a proposal to display nutritional information on “total sugar, salt and saturated fat” in bold and comparatively larger font size on the labels of packaged food products. FSSAI shared the latest amendment announcement on its official Instagram account.
The decision to approve the proposed amendments on nutrition labelling was taken at the food authority’s 44th meeting. “The amendments aim to enable consumers to better understand the nutritional value of the products they consume and make healthier choices,” FSSAI said. “They will also contribute to efforts to combat the rise in non-communicable diseases and promote public health and welfare.”
Here are some consumer reactions to this announcement in the comments section of the post:
“A very necessary decision,” wrote one Instagram user, while another added, “Very necessary for public health and safety.”
“This is a good step,” wrote another user. “Also, please stop using misleading advertising and packaging labels such as ‘natural’, ‘fresh’, etc.”
Also read: 22% pani puri samples in Karnataka don’t meet safety standards: FSSAI
When will these new amendments come into effect?
In its notification, the FSSAI said it would now make the draft notification regarding the amendments available to the public for suggestions and objections.
Related article: Food officials advise states to take strict action against unsafe food
In June this year, FSSAI directed all Food Business Operators (FBOs) to remove the claim “100% fruit juice” from their products. This includes any claim printed on the label and advertising of the product. According to FSSAI, if the added nutritive sweeteners exceed 15 g/kg, the product must be labelled as “sweetened juice”. More details here.
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