New Delhi: The Supreme Court has asked a group of experts to give suggestions in three months about making warning labels mandatory on the front of packaged food items. This decision follows a public interest lawsuit from a group called 3S and Our Health Society that wants clear labels on food high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats. These ingredients are linked to serious health conditions like diabetes and heart problems.
In September 2022, new ideas were suggested to change food labeling rules. These changes included a star rating system, where food products would be rated from 0.5 to 5 stars. More stars mean the food is healthier. However, the lawsuit questioned this star rating method, saying it isn’t clear enough. They suggested that there should be simple warning labels on the front to show if a product has a lot of sugar, salt, or bad fats, helping people make better choices.
The Supreme Court decided to move forward with the case and told the expert committee to report back quickly. The petitioners pointed out that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has not acted quickly on previous amendments from 2022. They expressed concern about the rising number of deaths linked to diseases caused by unhealthy diets, calling diabetes a silent epidemic. They cited recommendations from the World Health Organization for better food policies.
The government, however, defended the star rating system, saying it considers both unhealthy ingredients and healthy ones, like fiber and protein. They believe this method helps customers see the overall healthiness of food instead of just focusing on what’s unhealthy.
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