Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda recently asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to sensatise consumers on different aspects of food safety issues to promote healthy eating habits. According to a PTI report, the announcement was made during a review meeting at FSSAI headquarters in the national capital on Monday. This came after the increasing concerns about food safety and quality in different parts of the country.
"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 said during the meeting, adding that the food, beverage and hospitality industry also needs to have a behavorial change for inculcating healthy eating habits across the country.
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Mr. Nadda also mentioned that different regions of India have different dietary habits and preferences. So it is important for the food authority to understand them individully and frame the policies accordingly, prompting sustainable dietary, agricultural and industrial practices.
Meanwhile, taking a step forward towards healthy food practices, FSSAI has approved of the changes to nutritional information labeling on packaged food items. According to the new regulations by the food authority, it is mandatory to display total sugar, salt and saturated fat content on food packets in bold letters and larger font sizes.
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"The amendment aims to empower consumers to better understand the nutritional value of the product they are consuming and make healthier decisions," an official statement by the FSSAI reads.
Commending the board's decision, food content creator Revant Himatsingka, who goes by the name 'Food Pharmer', took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to state that this change in regulation "will make it easier for Indian consumers to spot junk foods and not fall for marketing gimmicks." He also added that such small steps can have "a massive long-term positive impact" on India.
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