The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), based in New Delhi, recently carried out a crucial analysis on packaged snacks and fast foods. The examination revealed that many of these food items exceed the safe limits for salt and fat content. To determine these safety limits, CSE utilized the concept of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA).
About the Recommended Dietary Allowance
Recommended Dietary Allowance, or RDA, is a guideline that specifies the daily maximum intake of key nutrients. This includes elements such as salt, fat, carbohydrates, and trans fats. The RDA is grounded in scientific consensus and has received approval from various expert bodies such as the World Health Organisation and India’s National Institute of Nutrition. As per the RDA, an adult should ideally not consume more than 5 gm of salt, 60 gm of fat, 300 gm carbohydrate, and 2.2 gm of trans fat on a daily basis.
The Role of Centre for Science and Environment
CSE is a public interest research and advocacy organization stationed in New Delhi. Founded in 1980, the organization focuses its efforts on sustainable and equitable development. Their research and lobbying activities aim to convey the importance of creating a balanced and sustainable present and future.
The Key Points of the CSE Analysis
In their study, CSE analyzed samples taken from grocery stores and fast food outlets across the city. Their findings indicated that, considering the serving size and nutrient content per 100 gm, a single package of these items often contained more salts and fats than the RDA suggests.
Moreover, in 2019, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) suggested draft Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations. These would require packaged food companies to disclose nutritional information such as calories, saturated fat, trans-fat, added sugar, and sodium per serving on the front of the pack.
Table of Nutritional Information Requirements
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| Information Type | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Calories (energy) | Per serve display on pack |
| Saturated fat | Per serve display on pack |
| Trans-fat | Per serve display on pack |
| Added sugar | Per serve display on pack |
| Sodium | Per serve display on pack |
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The Red Octagon Proposal and Industry Opposition
Despite these expected regulations being under discussion since 2015 and several drafts being published, they are yet to be implemented as laws. As a consequence, the CSE has proposed that all popular snacks and fast foods should prominently display a ‘Red Octagon’ on the front of their packages.
This warning symbol, used in packaged foods in Chile and Peru, includes a number and the name of a food component. This demonstrates to what extent the RDA for that particular ingredient has been exceeded. For instance, a Red “3.1 Salt” on a pack of potato chips indicates that the salt content is 3.1 times the RDA for snacks. However, this proposal has faced opposition from the food industry, as it would mean that all tested packaged foods would bear the red warning mark. Notably, the current regulations do not apply to fast food items such as burgers and pizzas, even though they were included in the CSE study.
