Access to Nutrition Initiative Report
The report by Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNi) found that major food and beverage companies sell less healthy products in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared to high-income countries (HICs).
The report assessed 30 global F&B companies and 52,414 products, revealing that the healthiness of food products in LMICs scored much lower (1.8) than in HICs (2.3).
Only 30% of companies made efforts to make healthier products affordable for lower-income consumers.
How the Health Star Rating System Works
The Health Star Rating system ranks food products on a scale of 0-5 stars, based on their nutritional content.
Products are scored based on factors like energy, saturated fat, sugar, and sodium (which increase risk), and protein, fiber, and fruits/vegetables (which decrease risk).
A score above 3.5 stars indicates a healthier choice.
Rise of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in India
India faces a significant NCD burden, with high rates of diabetes (10.13 crore people) and obesity (24% of women, 23% of men).
The increase in NCDs is linked to the rise of unhealthy diets, particularly highly processed foods rich in sugar and fat, and reduced physical activity.
Over 50% of Indians cannot afford a healthy diet, while spending on processed foods has increased, contributing to poor health outcomes.
Effectiveness of Front-of-Pack Labelling
Front-of-pack labelling, indicating high levels of sugar, fat, and sodium, is seen as a potential solution to improve consumer awareness and reduce unhealthy food consumption.
Countries like Chile and Mexico have successfully reduced sugary beverage consumption through mandatory labeling.
In India, efforts to implement such labeling have been slow, despite advocacy from health experts and the government’s previous commitments.
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