COVER STORY/FOOD LABELLING

UNHEALTHY RELAXATION

INDUSTRY WANTS

DILUTION

SODIUMTimes of FSSAI threshold

FSSAI (mg per 100 g or 100 ml) Working group proposed - mg per 100 g or 100 ml

BISCUITS AND COOKIES (CREAM, SWEET, SALTY, SAVOURY AND CAKES)

3.5

3.3

2.66

20

9

SNACKS AND SAVORIES–POTATO, CEREAL, FLOUR OR STARCH-BASED SNACKS

3.8

1.6

2.6

10250

400

COCOA-BASED SPREADS

5.7

NO THRESHOLD SET9.5

6

34

PASTAS AND NOODLES (INSTANT, DRIED, FRESH)

4

1.4

14

250350

FSSAI working group thresholds for total sugar and saturated fat are highly relaxed than limits proposed by the food regulator in its earlier drafts of labelling and display regulations

A working group of FSSAI prepared thresholds* for fat, salt and sugar in Feb-April 2021. These are highly relaxed than what FSSAI had proposed in earlier drafts and shows food industry has been working behind the scenes. The report is now on hold. Consumer groups hope it never gets enforced

* Products that have these nutrients beyond the threshold can be considered unhealthy and should require to carry a warning label

6

40

5 1.9

6.6

2.6

CONFECTIONERY–SOFT CANDY

6 2.6

17

35

6.5

5.8

CONFECTIONERY–COCOA AND CHOCOLATE

CONFECTIONERY–HARD CANDY

8.3

6

50

CONFECTIONERY–CHEWING GUM

6

35

5.8

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE JUICES

6

12

2

CARBONATED WATER–BASED DRINKS

36

2

DAIRY BASED DRINKS–FLAVOURED MILK, FERMENTED MILK

NO THRESHOLD SET15

NO THRESHOLD SET50

JAMS, JELLIES, FRUIT-BASED DESSERTS OR FRUIT-FLAVOURED DESSERT

DAIRY-BASED DESSERTS–ICE CREAM, SHRIKHAND, YOGURT

12

2.69

3.5

1.822

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

0

5

0

5

TOTAL SUGAR SATURATED FAT

GLOBAL STANDING FSSAI working group thresholds for total sugar and saturated fat are much higher than those in countries that follow global best practices

Chile, Peru, Israel (g per 100 g or 100 ml) Canada (children 1-4 yr) (proposed) Working group (g per 100 g or 100 ml)Number of times working group thresholds are higher than those of Chile, Peru and IsraelNumber of times working group thresholds are higher than Canadian thresholds for children

Dairy based drinks– flavoured milk, fermented milk

Confection-ery– coco products and chocolate products

Dairy based desserts– Ice creams, shrikhand, yogurt etc

Cocoa-based spreads

Edible ices Savoury snacks -chips

Biscuits and cookies(cream, sweet, salty,savoury and cakes etc.)

Jams, jellies, fruit-baseddesserts or fruit-flavouredbased dessert

Confection-ery– coco products and chocolate products

Dairy based desserts– ice creams, shrikhand, yogurt etc.

Cocoa-based spreads

Biscuits and cookies(cream, sweet, salty,savoury and cakes etc.)

3.5 4.3

5 6.2

3.4 4.2

1.8 2.2

2.3 6 2.4 6.3

4.3 11.3

2.2 6

BRAND FRENZY

WORKING GROUP THRESHOLD: 17 g

Cadbury 5 star 9.1 46.5

Snickers 10.5 38.2

Cadbury Dairy Milk Crackle 15.6 8.2

Nestle Milky Bar 28.4 67.1

Nestle Kit Kat 23 35.3

Perk 23.4 37.6

Munch 21.6 27.1

Amul Dark Chocolate 20.4 20.0

Amul Milk Chocolate 19 11.8

Cadbury Dairy Milk Silk 19 11.8

Cadbury Fuse 17.9 5.3

Cadbury Dairy Milk 17.5 2.9

Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate minis

17.5 2.9

Mars Nougat & Caramel Filled Chocolate Bar 8.2 51.8

CH

OC

OLA

TES

ICE

CR

EAM

S A

ND

DES

SER

TS(D

AIRY

BAS

ED)

Saturated fat content (g per 100 g)

Total sugar content (g per 100 g or 100 ml)

Saturated fat content higher/lower than working group threshold (%)HIGHER LOWER

Total sugar content higher/lower than working group threshold (%)

HIGHER LOWER

WORKING GROUP THRESHOLD: 15 g

FSSAI working group thresholds are so high that many branded products fall below the limit

FLAVOURED MILK

TOTAL SUGAR

SATURATED FAT

FSSAI (g per 100 g or 100 ml)

Working group (g per 100 g or 100 ml)

FSSAI (g per 100 g or 100 ml)

Working group (g per 100 g or 100 ml)

Times higher than FSSAI threshold

Times higher than FSSAI threshold

WORKING GROUP THRESHOLD: 9 g

Kwality walls desi kulfi 7.3 18.9

Amul Rajbhog Ice Cream 8.1 10.0

Havmor Signature Kesar Malti Ice Cream 7.3 18.9

Amul ice cream - roasted almond 7.6 15.5

Amul Tricone - Choco Crunch Ice Cream 12.9 43.3

Kwality Walls - Oreo and Crème 6.6 26.7

Amul ice cream choco-chip 7.1 21.1

WORKING GROUP THRESHOLD: 22 g

Havmor Signature Kesar Malti Ice Cream 19.2 12.7

Kwality walls desi kulfi 21.6 1.8

Kwality Walls - Oreo and Crème 23.8 7.7

Sunfeast Wonderz Milk Nutshake - Kesar Badam 10.5 30

Britannia Winkin Cow Vanillicious Thick Shake 11.2 25.2

Nescafe Chilled Latte Coffee 11.3 24.7

Source: Websites of manufacturers and retailers

3 1.9

2.2 2.72 2.5

2.5 6.7

DOWNTOEARTH.ORG.IN 16-30 SEPTEMBER 2021 DOWN TO EARTH 35

30-48Cover story-Labelling.indd 34-3530-48Cover story-Labelling.indd 34-35 13/09/21 11:51 AM13/09/21 11:51 AM