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Experts Call for Red Flags on Single High-Risk Nutrient in Packaged Foods
Confirmed
In Short: Experts are urging the Supreme Court to mandate front-of-pack warning labels for even one high-risk nutrient in packaged foods, citing evidence from Chile and support from global health institutions.
Experts are advocating for a change in the Supreme Court's consideration of mandatory front-of-pack warning labels on packaged foods, arguing that a warning should be issued even if a product is high in just one of the three key nutrients: fat, sugar, or salt. This approach is supported by evidence from Chile, where consumers understand that more warning labels indicate less healthy products.
The Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH) and the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) have emphasized that the thresholds for identifying high-risk foods should consider the overall energy content of the product, not just individual nutrients. This is crucial, as the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had proposed warnings based on the levels of added sugar and fat alone.
Global health experts, including those from the International Food Policy Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, and the University of Sydney, have backed the FSSAI's proposal to introduce red, hexagonal warning labels. However, they are concerned that requiring a product to exceed thresholds for two nutrients before receiving a warning could allow highly processed foods with excessive single-nutrient content to go unnoticed.
The experts argue that triggering warnings for each individual nutrient separately would ensure that no high-risk food escapes consumer attention, giving manufacturers time to reformulate their products without indefinitely postponing the second phase of the warning system.
What's confirmed
- Experts are advocating for a change in the Supreme Court's consideration of mandatory front-of-pack warning labels on packaged foods, arguing that a warning should be issued even if a product is high in just one of the three key nutrients: fat, sugar, or salt. This approach is supported by evidence from Chile, where consumers understand that more warning labels indicate less healthy products.
- The Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH) and the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) have emphasized that the thresholds for identifying high-risk foods should consider the overall energy content of the product, not just individual nutrients. This is crucial, as the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had proposed warnings based on the levels of added sugar and fat alone.
- Global health experts, including those from the International Food Policy Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, and the University of Sydney, have backed the FSSAI's proposal to introduce red, hexagonal warning labels. However, they are concerned that requiring a product to exceed thresholds for two nutrients before receiving a warning could allow highly processed foods with excessive single-nutrient content to go unnoticed.
- The experts argue that triggering warnings for each individual nutrient separately would ensure that no high-risk food escapes consumer attention, giving manufacturers time to reformulate their products without indefinitely postponing the second phase of the warning system.
What's still developing
- They said warning labels are the only type of front-of-pack label with real-world evidence showing that they can influence consumer perceptions and behaviour, encourage improvements in the nutritional quality of food products, and lead to healthier purchasing and dietary choices.
- The experts said black-and-white designs may be harder to visually mask on colourful packaging and therefore easier for consumers to spot at a glance.
- The institute said added-fat and added-sugar cut-offs should ideally not be considered in isolation from the food’s overall energy content and other nutrient considerations.