FBOs or the Food Business Operators have been unhappy with the Front of Pack Labelling regulations, proposed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. The recent norms on front of pack labelling have attracted criticism from food traders, FBOs and others, particularly, the ones who are involved in making of traditional Indian snacks & food products.
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The primary criticism, according to them, was related to the distinction this regulation will make between different foods as ‘good food’ and ‘bad food’.
As reported earlier, the FSSAI has proposed ‘Health Star Ratings’ for front of the packaged food based on the quantity of salt, sugar, fat and nutrients under the Indian Nutrition Rating system developed by the food authority.
Dhairyashil Patil, president, All India Consumers Products Distributors Federation, while talking to fnbnews.com, pointed out that food is not only made using salt, sugar and fat but there are numerous enzymes, processing aids, which are chemically derived and used in manufacturing of a variety of processed food. He said that these additives, processing aids should also be taken into consideration, not just salt, sugar and fat.
“There should be a proper study keeping in view the food diversity that we have across India and any regulations that are proposed to govern the food, particularly the Indian ethnic food, there must be talks with the stakeholders,” said Patil.
He added that the small food business operators (FBOs) or manufacturers will suffer the most as this regulation would force them to change their recipe which would be detrimental to their businesses.
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On the question of consumers’ right to be informed about the food products, Patil remarked, “The issue is not about consumers’ choice but branding of food as ‘good or bad’, while every food is made with FSSAI licence.” He added that his organisation was planning to meet the Union Health Minister soon to press their demand for recalling these regulations.