What does the sugar and salt labelling say?, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• Health Ministry directed government departments to display sugar and oil content of commonly consumed foods like samosas, burgers, vada paav, etc.
• Initiative includes use of official stationery (letterheads, notepads) to print health messages as daily behavioural nudges.
• Aims to combat rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), responsible for over 66% of deaths in India.
• ICMR-NIN supports classification of high fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) foods and encourages public awareness.
• Labels will help reduce hidden sugar, refined oils, and excess sodium intake contributing to NCDs.
• WHO recommends less than 65g fat, 25g added sugar, and 5g salt per day for Indian adults.

Detailed Insights:

1. NCD Burden: Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory conditions, and cancers are rising, especially among those aged 30 and above.

2. Hidden Nutrients: Popular processed and packaged foods often exceed safe levels of added sugar, salt, and oils, contributing to obesity and metabolic disorders.

3. Behavioural Nudges: Health boards in cafeterias, offices, and schools aim to influence everyday dietary choices through visible warnings.

4. Nutrient Assessment: Foods are assessed per 100g, using either lab analysis or ingredient-based evaluation from ICMR’s Indian Food Composition Tables.

5. HFSS Criteria (ICMR-NIN):

• Sugar >10% of total energy
• Fat/oil >15% of total energy
• Salt >625 mg/100g

6. Long-term Strategy: Encouragement of home-cooked, fibre-rich meals, reduction of packaged food dependency, and early dietary interventions in youth.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): Chronic diseases not caused by infectious agents; includes diabetes, hypertension, heart disease.
• HFSS Foods: High in Fat, Sugar, Salt — often processed and nutrient-poor; linked to obesity and NCDs.
• Nutrient Profiling: Scientific method to classify foods based on their nutritional composition.
• Behavioural Nudge: Policy tool used to subtly guide individuals toward healthier decisions without restricting freedom of choice.