Health minister urges food authority to empower people on food safety
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Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda has urged the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to educate consumers on various aspects of food safety to promote healthier eating habits.
This call to action was made during a review meeting at the FSSAI headquarters in New Delhi. The meeting addressed the growing concerns about food safety and quality across the country, reported PTI.
Nadda emphasized the necessity of providing evidence-based information to consumers, stating, "It is important to empower consumers and citizens on various food safety issues through evidence-based information. It is only then that our work will be accomplished in totality."
He also highlighted the need for a behavioral change within the food, beverage, and hospitality industries to foster healthy eating habits nationwide.
Recognizing the diverse dietary habits across India, Nadda stressed the importance of the food authority understanding these regional differences to develop appropriate policies. Such tailored policies are essential for promoting sustainable dietary, agricultural, and industrial practices.
In a move towards healthier food practices, FSSAI has recently mandated changes to nutritional information labeling on packaged food items. The new regulations require the total sugar, salt, and saturated fat content to be prominently displayed on food packets in bold letters and larger font sizes.
"The amendment aims to empower consumers to better understand the nutritional value of the product they are consuming and make healthier decisions," stated an official release from FSSAI.
This regulatory change was praised by food content creator Revant Himatsingka, known as 'Food Pharmer' on social media platform X. He remarked that the new labeling rules "will make it easier for Indian consumers to spot junk foods and not fall for marketing gimmicks." Himatsingka added that such small steps could have "a massive long-term positive impact" on the health of Indian consumers.