Curbing Intake of Processed Foods

In an age where convenience often trumps nutrition, the prevalence of processed foods in our diets has reached unprecedented levels. These foods, typically high in added sugars, unhealthy fats, and sodium, pose significant risks to our health when consumed in excess. However, awareness is growing about the detrimental effects of a diet laden with processed foods, prompting a shift towards more wholesome and nourishing alternatives. By curbing the intake of processed foods and embracing whole, unprocessed ingredients, individuals can take proactive steps towards improving their well-being and fostering a culture of health-conscious eating.

Tags: GS Paper – 3, Agricultural MarketingFood ProcessingAgricultural ResourcesGS Paper – 2, Poverty

Prelims: Ultra-Processed Food, Food Processing Industry, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), High Fat Sugar Salt (HFSS) Foods, ‘Eat Right Station’ Certification, Food Safety, National Health Policy 2017, Ayushman Bharat, POSHAN Abhiyaan, Anaemia Mukt Bharat.

Mains: Food Processing Industry, Concerns Over Consuming Ultra-Processed and High Fat Sugar Salt (HFSS) Foods.

Table of Contents

Context:

The concerns regarding the consumption of junk food underscore the need for a grassroots movement backed by authentic policy measures. This movement aims to promote healthy and nutritionally diverse diets and ensure informed food choices.
Junk foods are characterised by their high calorie content, sugars, unhealthy fats, and salt, coupled with low nutrient value. Typically processed extensively, they lack essential fibre, vitamins, and minerals.
Examples encompass fast food staples such as burgers, fries, and pizzas, as well as sugary treats like cookies, candies, and sodas, alongside salty snacks such as chips and pretzels.

Various Concerns Related to Junk (Fast) Foods in India:

Categorization as HFSS Foods:

Designated as high in fats, salts, and sugars (HFSS) foods, scientific research underscores how junk food compromises the body’s immune response, elevates blood pressure, induces spikes in blood sugar levels, promotes weight gain, and heightens the risk of cancer.

Proliferation of Comfort Foods:

Often marketed as comfort foods in India, examples of such junk or HFSS foods encompass cookies, cakes, chips, namkeen, instant noodles, sugary drinks, frozen meals, canned fruits, Indian sweets, and bakery products.

Surge in Lifestyle Diseases:

India is witnessing a significant surge in lifestyle diseases, with unhealthy dietary habits emerging as a primary contributor.
An Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) study published in 2023 highlights the alarming prevalence of metabolic disorders, including diabetes (11%), hypertension (35%), and abdominal obesity (40%), underscoring the substantial health burden posed by unhealthy diets.

Effects of Aggressive Advertising:

Influence on Dietary Habits:
- Aggressive advertising plays a significant role in shaping the dietary habits of Indians, especially targeting younger consumers, by promoting “tasty” and “affordable” comfort foods.

Survey Findings:
- According to a nationwide survey by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), 93% of children consume packaged foods, 68% regularly consume packaged sweetened beverages, and 53% consume these foods daily.

Expansion of Ultra-Processed Food Industry:
- The ultra-processed food industry in India has witnessed substantial growth, with a compound annual growth rate of 13.37% between 2011 and 2021. Furthermore, India’s food processing industry is projected to reach USD 535 billion by 2025-26.

High Glycemic Index (GI) and Glycemic Load:

Health Implications:
- There is mounting evidence linking high glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) diets to various health risks, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mortality.

Components of High GI Diets:
- High GI diets typically include foods such as sugar, white rice, refined flour (maida), potatoes, white bread, sweetened beverages, jaggery, and cookies, which are prevalent in Indian and South Asian diets.

Relevance to India:
- In India and South Asia, where carbohydrate consumption, particularly from high GI sources like white rice or wheat, constitutes a significant portion of caloric intake, there is a heightened concern regarding the elevated glycemic load of diets.

The Process of ‘Malting’ in Making Processed Foods:

Sugar Production from Malting:
Malting, a process involving germinating cereals, drying, roasting, and powdering, generates sugar in addition to added sugar.
Initially used in single malt whiskey production, malting is also employed in creating malt-based milk beverages and various chocolate powders.

Concerns Due to Processed Baby Foods:

Sugar Content in Baby Foods:
- Companies like Nestle recommend feeding infants twelve scoops or 100 grams of baby food daily, resulting in a sugar intake of 24 grams per day.
- Excessive sugar consumption in infants can strain the pancreas, leading to overproduction of insulin, potentially causing diabetes and obesity in the future.

Harmful Ingredients like Maltodextrin:
- Ingredients like maltodextrin, added to enhance flavour and texture, pose risks as they have a higher glycemic index (GI) than table sugar.
- Excess sugar is converted to triglycerides, leading to fatty liver and insulin resistance, which may culminate in diabetes.

Lack of Precise Definition for HFSS Foods:

Regulatory Challenges:
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has regulations to limit the consumption of foods high in fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS).
However, the absence of a clear definition or identification method for HFSS foods complicates effective regulation.

FSSAI Using Rating Stars and Not Warning Labels:

Regulatory Measures:
- FSSAI’s draft notification suggests identifying HFSS foods by their sugar and saturated fat content, potentially through front-of-the-pack labelling. However, the regulation remains ambiguous regarding the declaration of fat, sugar, and salt content.

Preference for Health Rating Stars:
- FSSAI leans towards health rating stars over warning labels, a decision criticised for its potential to mislead consumers about the nutritional value of products.

Escaping Star Rating Systems:

Concerns with INR Ratings:
- The Indian Nutrition Rating (INR) system assigns star ratings based on a product’s overall nutritional profile, but concerns arise about producers manipulating ratings by adding healthy components while maintaining unhealthy ingredients.

Voluntary Regulations:
- Regulations remain voluntary for four years after final notification, providing producers with a window to exploit rating systems while selling unhealthy products high in fat, sugar, and salt.

Addressing Concerns Arising from HFSS Foods:

Supreme Court’s Ruling:

Legal Precedent:

The Supreme Court of India’s 2013 ruling established a constitutional foundation for addressing concerns related to hazardous or injurious food articles. It underscored the potential threat to the fundamental right to life guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

Government Initiatives:

Promotion of Healthy Lifestyle:

The Government of India has prioritised the promotion of healthy foods and active lifestyles through various initiatives. These include Eat Right India, the Fit India Movement, and the Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition (Poshan) 2.0.

Ensuring Effective Implementation of FSSAI Regulations:

FSSAI Regulations for Schools:

The Food Safety and Standards (Safe food and balanced diets for children in school) Regulations, 2020, aim to protect children from unhealthy food choices.
These regulations restrict the sale of High Fat Sugar Salt (HFSS) foods in school canteens, mess premises, hostel kitchens, or within a 50-metre radius of the school campus.

Oversight by National Commission for Protection of Child Rights:

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has taken proactive steps to safeguard children’s health by issuing notices to health drink companies.
These notices urge companies to withdraw misleading advertisements, packaging, and labels that misrepresent products as “health drinks” despite their high sugar content.

Need for Industry Compliance:

It is imperative for companies to ensure the effective implementation of these regulations to protect the health and well-being of children.
Compliance with FSSAI regulations and guidelines is essential to mitigate the adverse impact of unhealthy food advertising on children.

Relooking FSSAI Regulation:

Reviewing Sugar Allowance:

The Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2019, permit the inclusion of sugar in milk cereal-based complementary food.
However, the regulation should be revisited as it allows the addition of sucrose and/or fructose, potentially contributing to excessive sugar intake among infants.

Need for Comprehensive Legislation:

A comprehensive legislation is essential to clearly define ‘healthy’ and ‘unhealthy’ foods and beverages.

The existing draft notification on front-of-pack labelling and high fat, sugar, salt foods should be enacted into law to provide a legislative framework for regulating food products.

Preventing Unhindered Marketing:

The marketing of unhealthy products to unsuspecting consumers, including infants, remains a significant concern.
Strict enforcement of regulations, particularly under the Infant Milk Substitutes Act, is necessary to curb illegal advertisements and promotions, especially on social media platforms.

Promotion of Local and Seasonal Foods:

Initiatives promoting local and seasonal fruits, vegetables, and traditional foods like millets should be encouraged.
Multimedia campaigns emphasising the health benefits of nutritious foods and discouraging the consumption of junk foods can raise awareness.
Leveraging social media influencers to advocate for balanced diets can also help mainstream discussions on healthy eating habits.

Four Strategies for Translating Policy Intention Into Meaningful Change:

Protecting Children from Junk Foods:

Define HFSS Foods: FSSAI should clearly define HFSS foods to facilitate effective regulation and enforcement, particularly concerning children’s dietary habits.

Implementing Front-of-Pack Labelling (FOPL):

Enhance Consumer Awareness: FOPL can empower consumers to make informed food choices. Implementing warning labels on the front of packaging, highlighting attributes like high salt content, can improve readability and comprehension, especially for individuals with specific health concerns.

Promoting Healthy Food Subsidies:

Encourage Consumption of Nutritious Foods: Policies should incentivize the production and consumption of whole foods, millets, fruits, and vegetables by offering subsidies.
Making healthier options more accessible and affordable than unhealthy snacks can encourage healthier dietary practices in both rural and urban areas.

Conducting Behavioural Change Campaigns:

Targeting Youth: Behavioural change campaigns should target children and young adults to promote healthy eating habits and mindful consumption.
Educating the youth about the benefits of nutritious foods and the risks associated with junk foods can foster a culture of health-conscious decision-making.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims

Q:1 Aspartame is an artificial sweetener sold in the market. It consists of amino acids and provides calories like other amino acids. Yet, it is used as a low-calorie sweetening agent in food items. What is the basis of this use? (2011)

(a) Aspartame is as sweet as table sugar, but unlike table sugar, it is not readily oxidised in human body due to lack of requisite enzymes

(b) When aspartame is used in food processing, the sweet taste remains, but it becomes resistant to oxidation

(c) Aspartame is as sweet as sugar, but after ingestion into the body, it is converted into metabolites that yield no calories

(d) Aspartame is several times sweeter than table sugar, hence food items made with small quantities of aspartame yield fewer calories on oxidation

Ans: (d)

Source: (TH)

FAQs

1. Why should I reduce my intake of processed foods?

Processed foods often contain high levels of added sugars, unhealthy fats, and sodium, which can contribute to various health issues such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Opting for whole foods instead can provide more nutrients and support better overall health.

2. How can I identify processed foods?

Processed foods often come in packages and have a long list of ingredients, including preservatives and additives. Look for foods that are closer to their natural state, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, to minimize intake of processed foods.

3. What are some alternatives to processed snacks?

Instead of reaching for processed snacks like chips and cookies, consider healthier alternatives such as nuts, seeds, yogurt with fresh fruit, veggie sticks with hummus, or whole-grain crackers with cheese. These options provide nutrients and are less processed.

4. How can I reduce processed foods in my diet on a budget?

Focus on purchasing whole foods in bulk, such as grains, beans, and frozen fruits and vegetables, which can be more cost-effective than buying individual processed items. Planning meals ahead of time and cooking at home can also help save money while reducing processed food intake.

5. Are all processed foods bad for you?

Not all processed foods are necessarily unhealthy, but it’s important to distinguish between minimally processed foods like frozen vegetables or canned beans, which can be part of a balanced diet, and highly processed foods like sugary cereals or fast food, which should be limited due to their potential negative health effects.

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Curbing Intake of Processed Foods – UPSC