Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 20: The NCD Prevention Academy (NCDPA), a subspecialty chapter of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, today expressed deep concern over the way the current food labeling practices are unintentionally harming our children’s health.
NCDPA chairperson Dr Rekha Harish said that the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey 2016-18 conducted by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare shows that obesity and NCDs markers are rampant in children, even as young as 5 years. She said one major factor responsible for this is the availability of hyper palatable, excessively advertised, Ultra Processed food (UPFs), displayed at every shop/mall and in all rural/urban areas.
“Food labeling in India is done in reference to the average daily requirements of an adult or adolescent and parents assume that it is equally healthy for their young children too, which is not true. Further, UPFs are positioned to be highly attractive to children. Also, Health Star Rating (HSR) which is possibly being considered by FSSAI, does not give a clear interpretation as stars are traditionally linked with positivity,” she added.
Dr Rekha further said that Caffeine is found in significant amounts in several favorite products of children and adolescents and adolescents inadvertently consume total amount of caffeine in a day exceeding permissible limits, increasing the risk of toxicity.
She said to safeguard the well-being of our children NCDPA strongly recommends that the food labeling be mandated in accordance with the lower cut off values of daily requirements and in case this is not feasible immediately, then the Front of Pack should at least boldly state that ‘the product is not suitable for children less than 10 years’.
She further suggested that FOPL should have nutrient specific warning labels which are easily understood by everyone, including children, regardless of literacy or knowledge of any particular language. “The Front of Pack should also provide information regarding caffeine content of the product, so that the community, including children and parents, can self-monitor their caffeine intake to ensure that they do not exceed permissible limits,” she asserted.
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