New recommendations have been put forward by the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to lower the quantity of sugar in packaged goods. These rules, the first of their kind in India, place stronger constraints on the quantity of added and total sugar in various goods in an effort to address the rising diabetes and obesity problems.
Background and Rationale
The new recommendations replace the previous ones, which were created 13 years ago and mostly concerned themselves with calorie levels. The updated rules attempt to reduce the hazards connected with excessive sugar intake and take into account the most recent research on the impact of sugar consumption on health.
Key Provisions of the Guidelines
The proposed guidelines set specific thresholds for sugar content in solid foods and beverages:
- Solid Foods: The sugar threshold has been estimated to be around 5% of energy from added sugar, with a maximum of 10% of energy from sugar in total.
- Beverages: The limit for sugar is around 10% of energy from added sugar, with a maximum of 30% of energy from total sugar—which includes the sugars contained naturally in milk and fruit juices.
Impact on the Packaged Food Industry
Numerous items, including branded soft drinks, juices, cookies, ice creams, and cereals, will be greatly impacted by the proposed restrictions. The suggestions have been deemed ‘impractical’ by several players in the packaged food business. They claim that the changes require major changes to product compositions. Furthermore, a few businesses assert that they were not informed prior to the guidelines’ release and that they intend to jointly submit statements to the ICMR and NIN in ten days.
Health Implications and the Need for Change
The concerning rise in diabetes and obesity rates in India led to the development of these suggestions for improvement. Public Eye, a Swiss non-governmental organization, disclosed earlier this year that two of Nestle’s best-selling baby food products were sold sugar-free in the UK, Germany, and Switzerland but had important added sugar content in India and other lower-income nations.
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