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More than symbolic: On curbing unhealthy food intake

Legislative measures to curb unhealthy food intake (सेवन, ग्रहण) are a must

In a welcome move, the Health Ministry has directed all government departments to display oil, sugar and trans-fat content (संतुष्ट करना) in everyday Indian snacks such as samosas, jalebis, vada pavs and laddoos in a bid to highlight the health risks of their consumption on a regular basis. The campaign will be piloted in AIIMS Nagpur and then rolled out to other cities. The move comes two months after the CBSE directed all affiliated schools to establish ‘sugar boards’ to monitor and reduce the sugar intake of children. These will list information on the recommended daily sugar intake, the sugar content in commonly consumed foods, health risks associated with high sugar consumption, and healthier dietary alternatives. The initiatives have been driven by studies that provide evidence of increasing obesity (मोटापा) trends in India. As in the NFHS data, obesity had increased from nearly 15% to 24% in men and from 12% to nearly 23% in women between 2005-06 and 2019-21. Since the amount of oil and sugar in Indian snacks is not apparent (स्पष्ट, प्रत्यक्ष) — and, hence, often overlooked (अनदेखा करना) — these initiatives will serve to fill the gap and act as “visual behavioural nudges (To touch or push (something or someone) gently; a light push or touch)”, much like the pictorial warnings on tobacco products. However, building awareness alone cannot bring about behavioural changes, especially in the absence of essential legislative measures.

Surprisingly, while the Health Ministry has targeted Indian snacks, nothing has been done over the years to introduce clear front-of-package labels to caution people about unhealthy packaged food items, and regulate the advertising, marketing and promotion of unhealthy food to children. Also, levying (शुल्क लगाना) additional tax on food products with high levels of fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) can further reduce consumption, as seen in some countries. As in the national multisectoral action plan for prevention and control of common non-communicable disease (2017-22), the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Regulation was required to be amended for inclusion of front-of-pack labelling and detailed nutrient labelling. The FSSAI (Packaging and Labelling) Regulation was amended in 2020; on July 15, the Supreme Court of India again directed the agency to execute this label on packaged food. For front-of-pack labels on HFSS food and beverage (पीने योग्य पदार्थ) products to become a reality, the FSSAI has to first define the upper limits for sugar, salt and total fat, which have not been finalised and approved so far. A 2022 study found that warning labels outperformed (बेहतर प्रदर्शन करना) all other forms of front-of-pack labelling in identify unhealthy products. A study by the ICMR-NIN found that warning labels and nutri-star ratings helped deter (रोकना, हतोत्साहित करना) the consumption of even moderately unhealthy foods. Measures to build awareness without essential legislative measures to curb (नियंत्रण रखना) unhealthy food intake will not be much more than symbolic (Representing something else; serving as a symbol).

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Intake (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - सेवन, ग्रहण
English Meaning - The amount of a substance taken into the body; a place where fluid or air is taken in.

2.Content (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - संतुष्ट करना
English Meaning - In a state of peaceful happiness; the subjects or topics covered in a book or document; to satisfy someone.

3.Obesity (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - मोटापा
English Meaning - The condition of being grossly fat or overweight.

4.Apparent (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - स्पष्ट, प्रत्यक्ष
English Meaning - Clearly visible or understood; seeming real or true but not necessarily so.

5.Overlook (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - अनदेखा करना
English Meaning - To fail to notice something; to have a view from above.

6.Levy (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - शुल्क लगाना
English Meaning - To impose (a tax, fee, or fine); a tax, fee, or fine.

7.Beverage (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - पीने योग्य पदार्थ
English Meaning - A drink, especially one other than water.

8.Outperform (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - बेहतर प्रदर्शन करना
English Meaning - To perform better than.

9.Deter (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - रोकना, हतोत्साहित करना
English Meaning - To discourage someone from doing something by instilling doubt or fear.

10.Curb (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - नियंत्रण रखना
English Meaning - To restrain or control (something undesirable); a check or restraint on something.

11.Symbolic (Adjective)

English Meaning - Representing something else; serving as a symbol.

12.Nudge (Verb)

English Meaning - To touch or push (something or someone) gently; a light push or touch.