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FSSAI’s Proposed FOPNL May Hurt Packaged Food Businesses
Indian Sellers Collective, an umbrella body of trade associations and sellers across the country, have released the findings of a study of favourite Indian foods as per the guidelines of the star rating method under the FOPNL (Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling) regulation proposed by FSSAI. As per the findings of the study, a large section of delicacies that Indians have loved to eat and gift for centuries, may look unfit for human consumption.
Under FOPNL there will be an INR (Indian Nutrition Rating System) and foods will be given ratings based on their nutritional information per 100 grams or 100 ML. The ratings will be from a half star or a 0.5 rating meaning “least healthy” to five stars being the “healthiest”. Traditional delicacies from different regions of India will be strongly impacted by the ranking. For example, the North Indian Mathura Peda which is also a religious offering will get 0.5 star, and Patisa will get a 1 star; Delicacies popular in South India like Mysore Pak will get a 0.5 star while delicacies becoming popular across India like Peanut Chikki and Instant Poha will get a 0.5 star.
Abhay Raj Mishra, Member & National Coordinator, Indian Sellers Collective said: “FOPNL will systematically make western foods look good and will gradually destroy traditional Indian foods and Indian palate. The proposed Indian Nutrition Rating System does not factor into the consumption patterns and habits of Indians, as it ranks all food items on 100 grams basis, making the method totally unscientific. In practice, most of these Indian foods getting an unfair rating are consumed in smaller single serves of say 20 grams, like in the case of traditional sweets like Peda or Mysore Pak. Consumers will perceive Indian traditional Foods to be “unhealthy” vis-a-vis western food which will have equal if not more sugar, fat and salt content. Western Foods of MNCs will get better ratings by following processes like reconstitution and substitution which are being granted exemption in the new system. Accordingly, western packaged food companies having foods with high or similar amount of salt and sugar will easily modify the nutrient composition of their food products to secure a better health star rating.”
Dhairyashil Patil, President, All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation (AICPDF) said: “FOPNL will impact the Indian packaged food MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise) and the millions of workers dependent on this traditional industry. For example, Bhujia is a cottage industry in Bikaner, Rajasthan, and provides employment to millions of people in the region, especially women. Indian Foods with lower star ranking and classified as unhealthy will be rejected by Indian consumers on face value of the product and they will rather favour supposedly healthier western food, which will be fortified and chemically substituted by MNCs to secure a better ranking. Western MNCs are collaborating with large retail companies and big distributors to capture the market and westernize the Indian palate. The FOPNL will be a key instrument towards discrediting Indian cuisine.”