{"id":7508,"date":"2022-08-22T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-22T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current_affairs\/uncategorized\/22-08-2022\/labelling-system-is-effective-in-identifying-harmful-nutrients\/"},"modified":"2022-08-22T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-08-22T00:00:00","slug":"labelling-system-is-effective-in-identifying-harmful-nutrients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/22-08-2022\/labelling-system-is-effective-in-identifying-harmful-nutrients","title":{"rendered":"Labelling System is Effective in Identifying Harmful Nutrients"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Recently, a new study in India found that <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>warning labels on food packets are most effective in helping consumers identify foods <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">high in sugar, saturated fat and sodium as compared to other labelling formats.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><strong>About the Study<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Background:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The study comes at a time when the <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is expected to issue its draft regulation<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> on <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>front-of-package labelling (FOPL)<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>The study was published <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">in the open access journal <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Nutrients<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">FSSAI has indicated that it favors <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Health Star Rating (HSR)<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">, earning the ire of public health experts who have accused it of favouring the food industry.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Random Experiment:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It was conducted on 2,869 adults in six States in India, where participants were shown food packets with <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>one of five FOPLs<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">A control label (barcode),\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Nutrient-specific warning label\u00a0 (octagon symbol indicating whether the product was high in salt\/sugar or saturated fat),\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Health Star Rating,\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Guideline for daily amount (GDA) that gives nutritional content information) or\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Traffic light label (indicating red, amber or green levels of nutrients of concern).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Key Findings:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It found that on most parameters, the <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>HSR format was least effective<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The study found that most participants were able to i<\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>dentify a nutrient of concern <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">when they were presented a packet with a warning label.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">However, the study found that warning labels did not significantly reduce intentions to purchase unhealthy packaged products.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><strong>Significance of Labelling System<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Caution for Customers:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> If the government is serious about the epidemic of obesity and non-communicable diseases, the consumer needs to be cautioned about junk foods through \u2018warning&#8217; labels.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Healthy choice:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> Warning signs educate consumers about harmful ingredients present in a food product and help them make healthy choices.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Informed decision:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> They also give a repetitive educational message so that even for domestic cooking or buying street food that warning bell goes off.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Easy to Understand:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> The display of star ratings was recommended by a study conducted by IIM Ahmedabad to make it easier for customers to understand. The system will be similar to the one that is being used by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency for assessing the energy efficiency in electrical devices.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Educate consumers:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> It will educate consumers about the nutrition profile of the food they are consuming.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><strong>Way Ahead<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">There is a <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>need to reinforce any FOPL policy <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">with a robust and focused communications campaign to increase consumer awareness and understanding<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">India needs to adopt a <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>suitable strategy <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">based on evidence to <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>make consumers aware <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">of nutrients of concern.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>recommendations for warning labels<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> need to be adopted soon.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div>\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"border-collapse:collapse; border:none; table-layout:fixed; width:624px\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color:#fff2cc; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top\">\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><strong>Front of Package Labelling (FoPL) system<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The rating will be the first such in India, a country burdened with lifestyle diseases.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Aim<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">: Guiding consumers to opt for healthy food.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It rates the overall <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>nutritional profile <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">of packaged food and assigns it a rating from half a star to five stars.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The decision was based on an <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Indian Institute of Management (IIM)-Ahmedabad study <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">commissioned by the FSSAI.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Front-of-pack labelling on packaged foods was <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>first recommended<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> by the FSSAI-led committee formed in 2013.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><strong>Health Star Rating<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It is a <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>front-of-pack labelling system<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> that rates the overall nutritional profile of packaged food and assigns it a rating from \u00bd a star to 5 stars.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It provides a quick, easy, standard way to compare similar packaged foods. The more stars, the healthier the choice.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The number of stars is determined using a calculator designed to assess positive and risk nutrients in food (The Health Star Rating Calculator). The algorithm that drives the calculator was developed in consultation with Food Standards Australia New Zealand and other technical and nutrition experts.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><strong>FSSAI Major Initiatives<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Heart Attack Rewind:<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> It is aimed to support FSSAI\u2019s target of eliminating trans fat in India by the year 2022.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO):<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> To enable the collection and conversion of used cooking oil to biodiesel.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>FSSAI-CHIFSS:<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">\u00a0 It is collaboration between FSSAI and CII-HUL Initiative on Food Safety Sciences to promote collaborations between Industry, Scientific Community, Academia for food safety.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Swasth Bharat Yatra:<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">\u00a0 It is a Pan-India cycle movement called \u2018Eat Right India&#8217; aimed to create consumer awareness about eating safe and nutritious food.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><strong>Source<\/strong><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\">: <\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/health\/warning-label-most-effective-in-identifying-harmful-nutrients\/article65791568.ece#:~:text=A%20new%20study%20in%20India,compared%20to%20other%20labelling%20formats\" style=\"text-decoration-line:none\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><span style=\"color:#1155cc\">TH<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In News Recently, a new study in India found that warning labels on food packets are most effective in helping consumers identify foods high in sugar, saturated fat and sodium as compared to other labelling formats. About the Study Background:\u00a0 The study comes at a time when the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7509,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[30,47],"class_list":["post-7508","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-current-affairs","tag-gs-2","tag-health"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2023\/07\/5116287Screenshot_20220822-210619_Chrome.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7508","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7508"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7508\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7509"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7508"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7508"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7508"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}