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Nutritional Content of Packaged Convenience Foods
Context
A study on 432 convenience food products, including idli mixes, breakfast cereals, porridge mixes, beverage mixes, soup mixes, and extruded snacks (puffed foods), has revealed that most of these products are high in carbohydrates. The study also examined how nutrition information is displayed on food packaging.
Key Findings of the Study:
- High Carbohydrates: Most convenience food products were found to provide more than 70% of energy from carbohydrates. Beverage mixes had the highest carbohydrate content, ranging from 5g to 95g per 100g.
- Fat Content in Snacks: Extruded snacks (like puffed foods) had the highest fat content, with 3g per 100g of fat on average, and a high amount of saturated fat.
- Sugar and Sodium Levels: Beverage mixes were high in sugar, while soup mixes contained high levels of sodium but had poor protein and dietary fiber content.
- Healthy Food Claims: While some foods were classified as healthy or moderately healthy, the study showed that many foods with health claims (e.g., "whole grains") didn’t always include such ingredients in the list. This can mislead consumers.
- Nutritional Labeling: Many packaged foods didn’t clearly display nutritional information per serving size, even though the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) requires it.
- A clearer labeling system is needed to help consumers make healthier choices.
Issues with Current Food Labeling:
- Confusing Labels: The current system of labeling is not uniform across all products. Some foods don’t clearly mention if they are high in sugar, fat, or sodium. This makes it difficult for consumers to make informed decisions. Some products mislead consumers with claims like "contains whole grains" when the ingredient list doesn’t show them.
- Lack of Warning Labels: There is a call for more warning labels on the front of packages, particularly for foods high in fat, sugar, or sodium. This would help people with specific health conditions, like high blood pressure or diabetes, avoid harmful foods.
Impact on Health:
- Changing Diet Patterns: Indians are spending more on processed and packaged foods, contributing to a rise in non-communicable diseases (like diabetes, heart disease, etc.).
- The Economic Survey highlighted that unhealthy diets contribute to 4% of India’s disease burden.
- Health Risks: Excess carbohydrates strain the pancreas, increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes. Chemicals in processed foods are also linked to diseases like fatty liver.
Food Labelling Regulations in India
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PYQQ: Consider the following Statements: (2018)
Which Statement given above is/ are correct?
Solution: (a) |
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