Recent findings from the Access to Nutrition Initiative reveal a concerning trend. Major food and beverage companies offer less healthy products in low-and-middle income countries compared to high-income countries. This disparity poses important health risks, particularly in nations like India, where non-communicable diseases are rising.
Key Findings of the Report
The report assessed 30 leading food manufacturers, covering 23% of the global market. It analysed over 52,000 products using a health star rating system. This system scores products out of five, with a score above 3.5 indicating a healthier choice. The average score in low-and-middle income countries was only 1.8, while high-income countries scored 2.3.
Health Implications in India
India faces a dual burden of malnutrition and non-communicable diseases. Over 10 crore Indians are diabetic, and obesity rates are concerning. The consumption of highly processed foods, rich in sugar and fat, has surged. The Indian Council of Medical Research attributes 56.4% of the disease burden to unhealthy diets. Access to nutritious food remains a challenge, with over half the population unable to afford a healthy diet.
Labelling and Regulatory Challenges
India has committed to World Health Assembly resolutions aimed at protecting children from unhealthy food marketing. Despite this, progress on front-of-pack labelling has been slow. Activists argue that effective labelling can reduce the consumption of unhealthy products, as seen in countries like Chile and Mexico. Current voluntary measures by companies have not yielded important improvements.
Addressing the Issues
The ATNi report calls for mandatory policies to improve nutrition-related performance among food companies. It marks that only 30% of companies have strategies to price healthier products affordably for lower-income consumers. The lack of micronutrient data in LMICs further complicates the situation, making it crucial for policymakers to act.
Future Directions
To tackle these challenges, there is an urgent need for comprehensive nutritional policies. This includes better regulation of food marketing, improved labelling, and strategies to make healthier foods more affordable. The focus must be on bridging the gap between product offerings in different income regions.
Questions for UPSC:
- Critically examine the impact of unhealthy diets on the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases in India.
- Discuss the role of food labelling in promoting healthier eating habits among consumers in low-income countries.
- Explain the significance of the health star rating system in evaluating food products. How can it be improved?
- With suitable examples, discuss the effectiveness of regulatory measures in controlling the marketing of unhealthy food to children.
Answer Hints:
1. Critically examine the impact of unhealthy diets on the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases in India.
- India faces a dual burden of malnutrition and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with over 10 crore diabetics.
- 56.4% of the disease burden is attributed to unhealthy diets, as per the Indian Council of Medical Research.
- High consumption of processed foods laden with sugars and fats contributes to obesity rates among adults and children.
- Dietary changes over recent decades have led to increased NCD prevalence, including cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
- Affordability issues prevent access to nutritious foods, exacerbating health disparities among low-income populations.
2. Discuss the role of food labelling in promoting healthier eating habits among consumers in low-income countries.
- Food labelling provides essential nutritional information, helping consumers make informed dietary choices.
- Mandatory front-of-pack labelling has been shown to reduce consumption of unhealthy products, as evidenced in Chile and Mexico.
- Warning labels are more effective than star ratings in conveying health risks associated with certain foods.
- Effective labelling can address the lack of awareness about unhealthy ingredients among consumers in low-income countries.
- Regulatory frameworks are necessary to ensure compliance and standardization of labelling practices across the food industry.
3. Explain the significance of the health star rating system in evaluating food products. How can it be improved?
- The health star rating system provides a quick visual guide to the nutritional value of food products, scoring them from 1 to 5 stars.
- It helps consumers easily identify healthier options amidst a plethora of food choices available in the market.
- Current scores show a disparity, with LMIC products averaging 1.8 stars compared to 2.3 in HICs, indicating a need for improvement.
- Improvements could include incorporating more comprehensive criteria, such as the presence of micronutrients and overall dietary context.
- Regular updates and transparency in the scoring process can enhance consumer trust and engagement with the system.
4. With suitable examples, discuss the effectiveness of regulatory measures in controlling the marketing of unhealthy food to children.
- Regulatory measures, such as restrictions on advertising unhealthy foods to children, aim to protect vulnerable populations from harmful marketing.
- Examples from countries like the UK show that stricter advertising regulations have led to reduced exposure of children to unhealthy food advertisements.
- In India, despite commitments to World Health Assembly resolutions, progress in implementing effective regulations has been slow.
- Studies indicate that when regulations are in place, there is a measurable decline in the consumption of sugary beverages among children.
- Consistent enforcement and public awareness campaigns are crucial for the success of these regulatory measures.
