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Resource centre on India's rural distress
 
 

Fast Road to Disease
-Economic and Political Weekly

India’s fast food products must be subject to mandatory labelling.

The role of fast or “junk” food with its concentration of fats, sugar and salt in the rapid multiplication of non-communicable lifestyle diseases has been the subject of countless studies over the past few decades, especially in the west. (A classic book from the United States with a title that says it all is Fast Food Nation.)

Now, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), continuing with its pioneering examination of our air, water and food, has produced the first comprehensive study in India that analyses the nutritional claims of top-selling fast food brands/chains. The CSE finds that the 16 major brands of ­noodles, burgers, fried chicken, potato chips and packaged aloo bhujia carry more salt and trans fats in one serving than that allowed by the National Institute of Nutrition and the World Health Organisation. Worse, some of these brands falsely claim that they contained zero trans fats while others do not even mention them. Although the CSE report, backed by laboratory testing, restates what is already known, the facts are disturbing and ought to provoke some action. The CSE has demanded mandatory labelling for serving size, ­trans fats, saturated fats, sugars and salts in addition to the compulsory mention of nutritional information for all pro­cessed foods including takeaways. It has also asked that junk food be banned from schools and places where children have easy ­access to such products.

Interestingly, the Delhi High Court has already asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to put together guidelines for a ban on sale of junk food and carbonated beverages within a 1,500 ft radius of schools. In January, it gave the FSSAI six months to do so and allowed it to invite the food processor and restaurant associations for consultation. The high court is hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a non-governmental organisation which is appalled by school canteens not only selling junk food but even tying up with certain chains. Almost all these brands appeal to young consumers with seductive advertising that feature glamorous celebrities, adventure sports, the offer of free toys and popular consumer accessories. In other parts of the world, health ­advocacy groups have demanded restrictions on this kind of ­advertising. Something similar needs to be done in India if we are to prevent the rapid increase of obesity amongst urban middle class children who are habituated to fatty and sugary snacks and drinks from early childhood. Amongst other problems this also leads to poor concentration and physical restlessness in such children.

Few consumers pay attention to the fine print of the ­ingre­dients – if they are at all printed – on fast food packages. Even those who do find it difficult to relate this information to health risks. In India, processed food is considered trans-fat free if it is less than 2 grams per serving. But few consumers stop at one serving. Also, many beverages list the salt, sugar and sodium content per 100 ml, but these drinks are hardly had in 100 ml portions. Besides, the veracity of claims of real fruits, multigrains and other healthy ingredients being used in these foods is open to contestation. Added to this is the fact that the fast food sector, estimated to be a Rs 6,750 crore annual business, is believed to be growing at almost 35-40% per year and the big brands have service outlets in strategic places such as the highways, railway stations, cinema theatres, exhibitions and sports stadiums. Many of them have also customised their offerings to please the local palate by marrying Indian and western tastes. Easy availability, attractive packaging, an all-out appeal to the taste buds, an emphasis on hygiene and relentless advertising thus make these items attractive to consumers from the lower middle class upwards. Coupled with these factors is an even more significant one. ­Indians, like most Asians, have a greater genetic disposition to storing more body fat per kg.

It is important therefore that the CSE report does not go the way of most such reports. The central government had told the Delhi High Court that there is no system to identify what items can be classified as junk food and stated that a com­mittee would be appointed under the FSSAI to do so. This could be a first step. Other options include the imposition of sugar and fat tax on manufacturers and restaurants as has been done in a number of European countries. How­ever, ­media reports and impressionistic data say that the ­impact of such action has not been very encouraging. Ultimately, like the war on smoking only relentless education and awareness campaigns can lead to consumer resistance. The campaigns, drawing in nutritionists and physicians, should contain information on nutrition and healthier alter­natives and teach consumers to read labels for health risks. These campaigns must run parallel to the government’s moves to make labelling of nutrition and risk factors mandatory and prominent.