Packaged Food Labelling: Why It Matters
Context:
A new report by the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNi) reveals that leading food and beverage (F&B) companies sell less healthy products in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) compared to high-income countries (HICs).
Findings from the ATNi Report:
The Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNi) assessed 52,414 products from leading brands like Nestlé, PepsiCo, Unilever, Coca-Cola, and Hershey.
Key Results:
- Health Star Ratings:
- Average score in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs): 1.8 stars.
- Average score in High-Income Countries (HICs): 2.3 stars.LMICs had fewer healthy product options compared to wealthier nations.
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- Affordability: Only 30% of companies had plans to make healthier foods affordable for low-income groups.
- Nutritional Data: Products sold in LMICs often lacked key information about micronutrients, unlike those in HICs.
- Health Disparities: The report highlighted that big companies often sell less healthy products in LMICs than in richer countries, contributing to nutritional inequities.
Understanding Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in India:
India is witnessing a surge in diseases like diabetes, heart conditions, and obesity. These are driven by:
- Unhealthy Diets: A rise in processed and calorie-rich packaged food consumption.
- Lifestyle Shifts: Urbanisation and sedentary habits.
- Limited Awareness: People lack knowledge about the long-term effects of poor dietary choices.
NCDs already impact millions:
- Over 10 crore Indians have diabetes.
- 24% of women and 23% of men are obese (NFHS-5).
- Unhealthy diets account for 56.4% of India’s disease burden (ICMR, 2024).
India’s Dual Food Challenges:
India faces two significant dietary issues:
- Overnutrition: Growing consumption of foods high in sugar, fat, and salt.
- Undernutrition: Persistent anaemia and deficiencies in essential nutrients.
Additionally, affordability is a concern. According to the UN, over 50% of Indians cannot afford a healthy diet, while spending on processed foods continues to rise, further straining health outcomes.
Can Front-of-Pack Labelling (FOPL) Help Solve India’s NCD Problem ?:
FOPL is a system where food packaging displays key nutritional information to help consumers make healthier choices. Systems like the Health Star Rating (HSR) rate foods on a scale from 0.5 to 5 stars, with higher ratings indicating healthier options. FOPL can:
- Guide Buyers: Empower consumers to select better products quickly.
- Encourage Companies: Push manufacturers to reformulate and improve product quality.
- Reduce NCDs: Support public health efforts to tackle obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
Global Success with Food Labelling:
Countries like Chile and Mexico have shown that mandatory labelling can drive change:
- Warning labels in these countries led to reduced consumption of sugary drinks.
- Studies indicate that warning labels are more effective than star ratings for influencing consumer choices.
Food Labelling in India – Current Status:
- India has joined global efforts to protect children from harmful food marketing, but progress on FOPL has been slow.
- The National Multisectoral Action Plan (2017–22) aimed to address NCDs but did little to implement FOPL.
- The 2022 FSSAI Draft Regulations for mandatory labelling have been stalled for two years.
The Need for Urgent Action:
Advocates are demanding:
- Mandatory FOPL to flag high sugar, fat, and sodium content.
- Policies to hold companies accountable for unhealthy products.
- In India, voluntary efforts by companies have been insufficient. Analyses by organisations like NAPi reveal that pre-packaged foods are often high in harmful nutrients, emphasising the need for stricter regulations.
