2 hrs ago
FSSAI Crackdown Renews Calls for Clearer Food Labels
India’s food safety regulator has taken action involving products from several large food brands.
It ordered a recall of Everest cumin powder after a sample was found unsafe.
It also ordered a sales ban on a Nestlé dairy whitener after a sample was found unsafe and substandard.
The regulator has questioned some Dabur claims and called for an audit of 27 product lines.
Nutrition experts say food labels should help shoppers understand what is in a packet.
They recommend checking sugar, salt, saturated fat and the full ingredient list.
A difficult ingredient name does not automatically mean the ingredient is dangerous.
Words such as “natural” or “high protein” can be marketing claims, so shoppers should look at the details too.
FSSAI ordered recalls or sales restrictions after findings involving Everest cumin powder and Nestlé dairy whitener.
The regulator called for an audit of 27 Dabur product lines and challenged certain product claims, including claims of medicinal benefits.
Dabur had also been barred from selling food products with specified “100%” claims.
Nutrition experts say labels should make key information, including sugar, sodium and saturated fat, easier to understand.
Experts caution that unfamiliar ingredient names are not automatically harmful, and that consumers should assess amounts, ingredients and marketing claims.
- Who
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), food brands including Dabur, Nestlé and Everest, and nutrition experts.
- What
- Recent regulatory scrutiny of food products and claims has prompted discussion about whether food labels should be clearer and easier to understand.
- Where
- India; the Nestlé dairy whitener sample was collected at The Lalit Hotel in New Delhi.
- When
- Recent actions described in the article include a Dabur audit call earlier in September and an Everest recall order on 4 October; the year is not specified.
- Why
- The regulator acted over products or claims it flagged, while experts called for labels that help consumers make informed choices.
Key facts
- Regulator
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- Dabur audit
- FSSAI called for a statutory audit covering 27 product lines.
- Dabur claims
- The article says Dabur was barred from selling food products carrying specified “100%” claims.
- Nestlé product
- Low Fat Dairy Whitener; a sample was described as unsafe and substandard.
- Nestlé sample location
- The Lalit Hotel, New Delhi
- Everest product
- Pre-packed cumin powder; FSSAI ordered a recall after a sample was found unsafe for consumption.
- Label details experts advise checking
- Added sugar, sodium, saturated fat, trans fat and the overall ingredient list.
Quotes
Sonal Nakra
Consultant nutritionist and founder of Eat and Heal
“When you're standing in a supermarket, you shouldn't need to be a nutritionist to figure out what you're buying. Consumers should be able to look at a packet and quickly understand the basics: what are the main ingredients, how much sugar, sodium and saturated fat does it contain.”
livemint.com
“Natural doesn't always mean safe”
livemint.com
Sources
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