What is the directive on sugar, salt labelling?

The Hindu

15 hours ago

The story so far:
The Health Ministry has asked all government departments to prominently display the amount of oil and sugar content on popular Indian snacks like samosa, vada paav, kachori, pizza, and burger, stating that this information has to be shared in cafeterias, lobbies, meeting rooms, and even government stationery.
What is the proposal?
'We are proposing a display of sugar and oil boards initiative to promote healthier dietary habits in various settings. These boards serve as visual behavioural nudges in schools, offices, public institutions, etc., displaying key information about hidden fats and sugars in everyday foods,' said Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava in a recent letter to all ministries, departments, and autonomous bodies of the Union government.
It has also requested that all official stationery-letterheads, envelopes, notepads, folders, etc., and publications print health messages as daily reminders to reinforce the fight against obesity.
Why are warning labels being devised?
The Health Ministry says these warnings are designed to create awareness. 'The goal is to promote moderation, not restriction,'' it added.
According to the information released by the Health Ministry, India is currently facing an unprecedented rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which account for over 66% of all deaths across the country.
With the rapidly changing demographic and epidemiological landscape, the burden of NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, and cancers has become a public health challenge, particularly among individuals over the age of 30, it noted.
Pariksha Rao, director of nutrition and medical affairs at The Good Bug, a private venture in the wellness industry, points out that too much sodium, added sugar, refined oils, and sugar-sweetened drinks, often disguised as healthy options, can derail even the best diets. 'These contribute directly to the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and poor metabolic health. At the same time, many people fall short on essential nutrients by not getting enough fibre, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, or fermented foods that support gut health,' she adds. Functional snacks, which promise health benefits, also add to the problem.
How is the nutrient value of food calculated?
Nutrient values of foods are calculated by conducting laboratory assessment of prepared foods and are represented on a per 100g basis for ease of understanding. It considers total sugar, saturated fat, and salt levels. Where lab-based nutrient analysis is not available/feasible, evaluations are based on aggregating the nutritional values of ingredients available in the Indian Food Composition Tables (IFCT) published by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition-Hyderabad (ICMR-NIN). Foods are usually evaluated for their healthiness using validated nutrient profiling models.
The recently released ICMR-NIN's Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2024, made an attempt to indicate high fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) foods as foods in which calories from total sugar exceed 10% of total energy, calories from added fat/oil exceed 15% of total energy, and salt content is more than 625 mg per 100g of solid food, explains Bharati Kulkarni, director at ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad.
She adds that the NIN supports the Centre's initiative to create public consciousness about HFSS foods as a step toward addressing the rising rates of obesity and non-communicable diseases, especially among children and youth.
The HFSS foods are usually processed and are typically low in essential nutrients; excessive consumption of HFSS foods can contribute to various health problems, including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
What are the unhealthy snacks?
Any snack or food, Indian or Western, homemade or packaged, can be unhealthy if it exceeds the limits of sugar, salt and fat content.
'It would not be pertinent to single out Indian snack foods or Western ones, or even packed foods or the ones we buy on the street. The focus should be on the nutritional content of a food irrespective of its origin. Initiatives of the Health Ministry are a part of a non-punitive, awareness-driven approach to create behavioural nudges and empower consumers to make informed choices. These efforts complement government programmes like Eat Right India of FSSAI, Poshan Abhiyaan, Fit India, National NCDs control programme and school health initiatives,' says Dr. Kulkarni.
What are the guidelines on sugar and salt?
TheWorld Health Organization recommends a healthy diet throughout life to help prevent all forms of malnutrition (wasting, stunting, underweight, inadequate vitamins or minerals, overweight, obesity), as well as a range of diet-related non-communicable diseases(such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers), and lower the risk of infectious diseases. For adults in India, the recommended daily intake is less than 65g of total fat, less than 25g of added sugar, and less than 5g of salt. The limits have also been set for children in their various phases of development.
Ms. Rao advocates for building meals around fibre-rich ingredients, local produce, lean proteins, and healthy fats. 'Cook at home more often, slow down at meals, and reduce reliance on packaged shortcuts. Small, consistent changes make a bigger impact than restrictive trends. What matters most isn't perfection, but a long-term pattern of choosing food that nourishes the body.'