The SC has given FSSAI three months to come out with its recommendations on the proposed move to introduce mandatory warning labels on the front of packaged food items.The statement, which included experts from Foundation for People-Centric Health Systems; Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI); Kidney Warriors Foundation; Navdanya; Consumer Voice; Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine; Indian Society of Nephrology; and Indian Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Endocrinology, said FOPNL provides key information to the consumer upfront as a matter of human right as well as a public health intervention.“The consumption of unhealthy foods and drink products is rapidly rising in India. The WHO India study on the growth of ultra-processed foods in India concluded that there is a 13.3% annual cumulative growth rate,” the statement said.“Studies do suggest that consumers spend as little as 10 seconds in the selection of food items; therefore, a label that would quickly and effectively lead to the ability of the consumer to identify unhealthy products would be the need of the hour. To create a healthy food environment, global experts have been calling for WLs on these food products,” it added.The statement cited examples from other countries to buttress their point. “Several countries in Latin America, such as Chile, Mexico, Uruguay, Brazil, Peru and Israel, have accepted the use of WLs as FOPNL, and that has demonstrated a change in consumption and outcomes.”Highlighting that the recently concluded India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which reduces tariffs on imported foods, such as chocolate, gingerbread, sweet biscuits and soft drinks, means that lower prices for these HFSS food products risk flooding the market.“This consensus statement reflects a strong and unified call to implement clear WLs on pre-packaged HFSS food products to reduce their consumption. The scientific evidence from India and outside is overwhelming in favour of WL,” it concluded.
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