{"id":103865,"date":"2024-04-23T19:22:24","date_gmt":"2024-04-23T13:52:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=current-affairs&#038;p=103865"},"modified":"2024-04-24T19:02:28","modified_gmt":"2024-04-24T13:32:28","slug":"high-sugar-in-nestle-baby-products","status":"publish","type":"current-affairs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/high-sugar-in-nestle-baby-products","title":{"rendered":"High Added Sugar Content in Nestle Baby Products"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to a report released by Swiss NGO, the Public Eye and International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), Nestle\u2019s baby food products sold in India, African and Latin American countries, have higher sugar content, in comparison to the same products sold in European markets.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Around <\/span><b>150 baby products manufactured<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by the global food and beverage company, Nestle, sold in different countries were tested in a Belgian laboratory.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table style=\"width: 100.201%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Relevance For Prelims<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: <\/span><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/diseases\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DISEASES<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/ncert-notes\/role-of-government-in-health-services\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role Of Government In Health<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/india-growing-obesity-problem\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India&#8217;s Growing Obesity Challenge<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/india-spending-billions-on-fast-food\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India Spending Billions On Fast Food<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/india-diabetes-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sugar Tax For A Healthier India<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/rising-diabetes-india\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rising Diabetes In India<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Relevance For Mains: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Food Regulation &#038; Safety Standards in India: Challenges, and Way Forward.<\/span><\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>Report Reveals High Added Sugar Levels in Baby Foods Across India and Southeast Asia<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was found that all <\/span><b>15 Cerelac products for six-month-old babies<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which are sold without any added sugars in the United Kingdom and Germany, contained 2.7 grams of added sugar per serving in India.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Products sold in <\/span><b>Ethiopia and Thailand contained nearly 6 grams<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of added sugar.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Among 1,600 infant cereals, snacks and ready-to-eat meals marketed at young children in Southeast Asia, nearly <\/span><b>half of the products (44 per cent) <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">included added sugars and sweeteners.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Course<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100.3%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>WHO Recommendation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WHO recommends that to <\/span><b>prevent obesity and chronic diseases<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, no added sugars or sweetening agents should be permitted in any food for children under three.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It also called on countries to <\/span><b>reduce free sugar intake in children and adults to 10%<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of their total energy intake<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>Why Are Added Sugars Harmful?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Naturally Occurring Sugar:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Sugar is a simple naturally occurring carbohydrate found in milk (lactose) and fruit (fructose). Any product that contains milk (such as yogurt, milk or cream) or fruit (fresh, dried) contains some natural sugars.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Free Sugar: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Free sugar or added sugar is added separately to a food item during preparation or processing and includes natural sugars such as white sugar, brown sugar and honey, as well as chemically manufactured sweeteners such as high fructose corn syrup.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>Risks Due to Added Sugar Intake<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Overweight and Obesity: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High consumption of sugar significantly contributes to excess body weight and obesity. It also leads to risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Dental Health: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High sugar intake is closely linked to dental problems, including cavities. Sugars in food and beverages participate in the tooth decay process by feeding plaque bacteria, which produce acids that erode tooth enamel.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Chronic Diseases: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consuming too much sugar can increase the risk of developing chronic diseases such as metabolic issues, heart risks, diabetes etc.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The global burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in India has <\/span><b>surged from 38% in 1990 to 65% in 2019<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with 1.2 million deaths annually attributed to dietary risks.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Development of Unhealthy Eating Preferences: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Introducing high sugar foods to children can lead to a lifelong preference for overly sweet foods.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Nutritional Displacement:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A diet high in sugary foods often lacks essential nutrients. When people consume too many sugary foods, they tend to consume fewer fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, which provide necessary vitamins, minerals, and fiber.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Addictive Nature<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Sugar can trigger mechanisms similar to those in addiction, leading to compulsive eating behaviors and difficulty controlling the consumption of sweet foods.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Economic Burden<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The economic impact of diseases related to high sugar consumption is substantial.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In India, the cost associated with overweight and obesity was estimated at <\/span><b>$23 billion in 2017, with projections rising to $480 billion by 2060<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These conditions contribute to <\/span><b>increased healthcare expenditures and loss in productivity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>Food Regulation Standards in India<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Food regulation standards are majorly governed by the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/fssai-food-safety-and-standards-authority-of-india\/#:~:text=Food%20testing%20Accreditation%3A%20FSSAI%20has,manufactured%2C%20stored%2C%20or%20exhibited.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)<\/b><\/a><b>.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It sets forth comprehensive guidelines and implements the same.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Regulations for Sugar Content: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indian regulations governing infant nutrition standards do not specify an upper limit for added sugars. Instead, they outline requirements for various macronutrients such as <\/span><b>proteins, fats, and carbohydrates<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as well as essential micronutrients like <\/span><b>Vitamin C, D, Iron, and zinc<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They also allow sucrose and fructose to be used as carbohydrate sources, provided they <\/span><b>constitute less than 20 per cent of the total carbohydrates<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the food.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Food Additives and Contaminants:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> No food product may contain additives or processing aids that are not approved by the FSSAI. Similarly, food must not contain contaminants or toxic substances beyond specified limits.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Example: Ban on Rhodamine B<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as food coloring agent.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Pesticides and Residues:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Food products must not exceed the set limits for residues such as pesticides, veterinary drugs, antibiotics, and other pharmacological substances.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Insecticides Act, 1968<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> dictates that no insecticides are used directly on food products except for registered fumigants.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Packaging and Labeling: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Labeling must not mislead consumers regarding the food product\u2019s characteristics, origin, or quality. The presentation and information provided must be truthful and informative.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Advertising Standards:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Advertising for food products must not be misleading or deceptive and must comply with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act and its regulations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Licensing and Registration: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All food vendors and operators need to be registered or licensed under the Food Safety and Standards Act.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Use of Potable Water: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Entities involved in food preparation must ensure their water sources are tested and certified for potability to guarantee that the water used for cooking is safe for consumption.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc\/pw-only-ias?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>Way Forward\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Implementation of High Fat Sugar Salt (HFSS) taxes: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is a need to implement HFSS taxes in India to tackle health risks, emphasizing their role in encouraging healthier choices, driving industry reformulation, and reducing the economic strain on healthcare.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Alignment with Global Standards:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> FSSAI needs to align its rules with the global standards such as reduced free sugar requirements in infant food,so that food companies do not discriminate between India and other developed countries.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Public Awareness and disclosures:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> There is a need to spread awareness about how to infer mandatory disclosures on packed foods. This would empower them to make informed decisions about their food choices.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<span class=\"vc_button\"><b>Also Read: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/hfss-foods-in-india\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taxing HFSS Food As A Public Health Imperative<\/span><\/a><\/span>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100.348%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 36px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 3577.41%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 36px;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Must Read<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 30px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 54.4983%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 30px;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/ncert-notes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NCERT Notes For UPSC<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 3522.91%; 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