1 week ago
Parle Supports Stricter Food Labels, Defends Parle-G Campaign
India’s food-safety regulator wants companies to provide clearer information on food labels.
Parle Products said it supports this idea.
The company believes shoppers want to understand ingredients and nutrition before buying food.
Parle said it has already worked to reduce sugar, fat and salt in some products.
It has also added biscuits made with millet, lower-sugar choices and Parle-G Oats & Berries.
A Parle executive said people should eat biscuits in moderation.
He also explained that the Parle-G “G Maane Genius” advertisements were meant to celebrate kindness and sharing, not to say biscuits make children smarter.
Parle said it will keep reviewing its products and advertising.
Parle Products welcomed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s move to tighten food-labelling requirements.
Vice President Mayank Shah said accurate and transparent claims would improve consumer understanding without major product changes.
Parle said it has reduced sugar, fat and sodium in several products over the past seven to 10 years.
The company has introduced millet-based biscuits, lower-sugar products and Parle-G Oats & Berries as preferences change.
Shah defended the “G Maane Genius” campaign, saying it promoted kindness, empathy and sharing rather than claiming biscuits improve intelligence.
- Who
- Parle Products, its Vice President Mayank Shah, and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.
- What
- Parle backed stricter food-labelling requirements and discussed changes to its products and marketing claims.
- Where
- India, in the context of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s requirements.
- When
- Parle said it has modified some products over the past seven to 10 years; the “G Maane Genius” campaign was also discussed in relation to research during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Why
- To improve transparency for consumers, respond to changing preferences and ensure product claims remain clear and credible.
Parle’s Position
Concerns Raised
Stricter food labelling
Parle’s Position
Parle welcomed stronger disclosure standards, saying accurate and informative claims can improve transparency without requiring major changes to existing products.
Concerns Raised
The push for tighter requirements reflects concerns that consumers need clearer information about ingredients, nutritional content and product claims.
Parle-G advertising
Parle’s Position
Mayank Shah said “G Maane Genius” did not claim that eating biscuits makes children more intelligent; he said it focused on kindness, empathy and sharing.
Concerns Raised
Questions were raised about whether the campaign could suggest a connection between eating Parle-G biscuits and children becoming more intelligent.
Biscuit nutrition
Parle’s Position
Parle said it has reduced sugar, fat and sodium in some products, expanded lower-sugar and whole-grain offerings, and that moderation and smaller packs can help limit consumption.
Concerns Raised
Concerns remain about the nutritional content of biscuits, prompting attention to portion sizes, ingredients and nutritional information.
Key facts
- Regulator
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- Company
- Parle Products
- Company representative
- Vice President Mayank Shah
- Product changes
- Parle said it has reduced sugar, fat and sodium in several products over seven to 10 years.
- Newer offerings
- Millet-based biscuits, lower-sugar options and Parle-G Oats & Berries
- Pack sizes mentioned
- Widely sold ₹5 and ₹10 packs
- Advertising issue
- Parle said “G Maane Genius” was intended to highlight kindness, empathy and sharing, not link biscuit consumption with intelligence.
Sources
Related news
Nestlé CEO Supports India Crackdown on Misleading Food Labels
FSSAI Cracks Down as Bournvita Withdraws Health Claims
FSSAI Action Prompts Bournvita and Amway to Drop Misleading Claims
FSSAI Notices Prompt Food Firms to Withdraw Misleading Claims
India’s Front-of-Pack Food Warning Debate Faces Industry Pushback
Why Indian Food Labels Can Hide Unhealthy Ingredients
India’s Proposed Food Warning Labels Face Health, Industry Backlash
FSSAI Chief Backs Mundhe’s Maharashtra Food Safety Drive
Egg prices surge 10-50% in six months, consumers concerned about adulteration
Cockroach Allegedly Spotted On Dessert Plate At Virar Restaurant
India Proposes Red Warning Labels for Unhealthy Packaged Foods
