In an affidavit to the SC last month, the FSSAI proposed to withdraw the draft regulations and conduct further research before finalising a mechanism for 'Front of Pack Nutrition Labelling'.
Public health advocates want 2022 proposal of a 'Health Star Rating' junked, saying it favours industry, want clear and mandatory warning labels on the front of the pack.
Govt-funded study analysed front and back of labels of 432 popular packaged food products including breakfast cereals, idli mixes, porridges, soup mixes, beverages and extruded snacks.
Amendment to the regulations aims to empower consumers to make healthier choices. Draft notification will now be put in public domain to invite suggestions and objections.
Nutrition think tank NAPi releases report based on study conducted over past 7 months, as part of which print, TV ads of 50 popular brands of packaged food and beverages were analysed.
This comes after it emerged Nestlé adds sugar in its baby food in middle- and low-income nations. FSSAI has been asked to mandate a yellow strip on packets depicting percentage of sugar.
Packages of Bournvita show that it has 32.2 g added sugar now, in comparison to 37.4 g sugar earlier. Earlier, a row had erupted following a video about the product.
In backdrop of Bournvita controversy, food safety regulator has called meeting with stakeholders this month to discuss whether HSR or pictorial warning labels are better idea, it is learnt.
This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.
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