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Misleading Publicity on Processed Food
Context:
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries has established a 19-member committee to address the issue of misleading publicity in the processed food sector.
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- The committee, headed by Union Minister Chirag Paswan, includes representatives from various ministries like Health, Consumer Affairs, and other industry stakeholders.
- The goal of this committee is to develop a comprehensive strategy to ensure accurate information for consumers, prevent misleading advertisements, and foster ethical marketing practices within the processed food industry.
Key Objectives of the Committee
- Develop a Strategy: The committee is tasked with formulating a strategy to identify, prevent, and address misleading advertisements and promotional practices in the processed food sector.
- Review Existing Regulations: The committee will examine current advertising practices, labels, and regulations related to processed foods. It will also propose amendments or new frameworks to address any regulatory gaps and strengthen enforcement mechanisms.
- Protect Consumer Rights: A key priority is ensuring consumer rights protection by promoting transparency, accuracy, and ethical practices in advertising. The committee aims to prevent deceptive claims that could mislead consumers about processed food products.
- Fostering Positive Promotion: The committee will work to highlight the positive aspects of processed food and provide recommendations for clear and truthful communication to foster consumer trust.
Role of the Committee
- The committee will assess advertisements, labels, and promotional practices of processed food products.
- It will recommend new regulatory frameworks and guidelines for ethical advertising.
- The committee will oversee the development of strategies to tackle misleading advertising, focusing on consumer protection and transparency.
What are Processed Foods?
- Any food that has been altered from its natural state is considered processed.
- Lightly processed foods (such as cut, cooked, or seasoned foods) are not necessarily harmful. The real concern lies with highly processed and ultra-processed foods, which are packed with excessive salt, fat, and sugar.
Rising Processed Food Consumption in India
- India is increasingly adopting a Western lifestyle that favours sugary drinks and processed foods, while the intake of fruits and vegetables is declining. This leads to an excessive calorie intake with fewer essential nutrients, fueling the rise in diet-related health issues.
- Experts warn of a direct link between rising processed food consumption and the increase in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases.
- A Lancet study published in 2024 confirmed that India has the highest number of diabetics globally, with a staggering 62% of diabetics not receiving treatment. This reflects a critical need for intervention to address both dietary habits and healthcare access.
- A report by Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPi), a New Delhi-based nutrition think tank, has shed light on how ultra-processed foods conceal crucial nutritional information and use manipulative advertising tactics to attract consumers.
Gaps in Advertisement Laws
- The Advertisement Code of the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994 prohibits ads that promote unhealthy practices among children but lacks clear restrictions on HFSS (High Fat, Sugar, and Salt) foods.
- The Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006, aims to prevent misleading food advertisements but fails to define “misleading ads” objectively.
- The Consumer Protection Act (2019) only restricts junk food ads in children’s programs, with no broader regulations on HFSS food advertisements.
Government Efforts
- Regulations and Policies: The Economic Survey 2024-25 emphasised the need to regulate misleading nutrition claims and information on ultra-processed foods (UPFs).
- It suggested setting standards for permissible levels of salt, sugar, and saturated fats, and imposing stricter marketing restrictions, especially targeting children.
- Labelling Requirements: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) approved a proposal to make information about sugar, salt, and saturated fat content on labels of packaged foods and beverages bolder and bigger. This aims to empower consumers to make healthier choices and combat non-communicable diseases.
- Taxation and Subsidies: The Economic Survey proposed higher taxes on UPFs and suggested a ‘health tax’ measure targeted at brands/products that advertise these foods. It also recommended promoting local and seasonal fruits and vegetables through positive subsidies.
