Need for a Strong FOPL in India-position Statement
Due to lifestyle changes, urbanization, and the rise of ultra-processed foods (UPF), India is undergoing a rapid nutritional transformation. These dietary shifts have significantly contributed to the rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which now account for a substantial portion of mortality a...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Indian Journal of Community Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_756_24 |
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| author | Nandita Sharma Yogesh Bahurupi Suneela Garg Umesh Kapil Pankaj Bhardwaj Om Prakash Bera Mahendra Singh Pradeep Aggarwal |
| author_facet | Nandita Sharma Yogesh Bahurupi Suneela Garg Umesh Kapil Pankaj Bhardwaj Om Prakash Bera Mahendra Singh Pradeep Aggarwal |
| author_sort | Nandita Sharma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Due to lifestyle changes, urbanization, and the rise of ultra-processed foods (UPF), India is undergoing a rapid nutritional transformation. These dietary shifts have significantly contributed to the rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which now account for a substantial portion of mortality and disease burden in the country. A strong Front-of-Pack Labeling (FOPL) system is recommended in this position statement as a powerful public health tool to address this issue. Through the provision of easily comprehensible nutritional data, FOPL encourages food producers to create healthier goods while empowering customers to make educated dietary decisions. Current labeling practices in India, such as the Indian Nutritional Rating (INR), fall short due to complexity and voluntary implementation. This paper evaluates international best practices, including warning labels and color-coded systems, highlighting their effectiveness in reducing the consumption of high-risk foods. We argue for straightforward, uniform, and globally evidence-based approach to mandatory FOPL implementation. Policymakers, industry stakeholders, and public health advocates must collaborate to develop an FOPL system that addresses India’s unique dietary landscape. Such an initiative is crucial to reducing the NCD burden and fostering healthier eating habits nationwide. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f1a72e4cb4334c9d98d3e1f70bcb5e47 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0970-0218 1998-3581 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Indian Journal of Community Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-f1a72e4cb4334c9d98d3e1f70bcb5e472025-01-07T06:06:04ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Community Medicine0970-02181998-35812024-12-0149Suppl 2S177S17910.4103/ijcm.ijcm_756_24Need for a Strong FOPL in India-position StatementNandita SharmaYogesh BahurupiSuneela GargUmesh KapilPankaj BhardwajOm Prakash BeraMahendra SinghPradeep AggarwalDue to lifestyle changes, urbanization, and the rise of ultra-processed foods (UPF), India is undergoing a rapid nutritional transformation. These dietary shifts have significantly contributed to the rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which now account for a substantial portion of mortality and disease burden in the country. A strong Front-of-Pack Labeling (FOPL) system is recommended in this position statement as a powerful public health tool to address this issue. Through the provision of easily comprehensible nutritional data, FOPL encourages food producers to create healthier goods while empowering customers to make educated dietary decisions. Current labeling practices in India, such as the Indian Nutritional Rating (INR), fall short due to complexity and voluntary implementation. This paper evaluates international best practices, including warning labels and color-coded systems, highlighting their effectiveness in reducing the consumption of high-risk foods. We argue for straightforward, uniform, and globally evidence-based approach to mandatory FOPL implementation. Policymakers, industry stakeholders, and public health advocates must collaborate to develop an FOPL system that addresses India’s unique dietary landscape. Such an initiative is crucial to reducing the NCD burden and fostering healthier eating habits nationwide.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_756_24noncommunicable diseasespublic healthultra-processed foods urbanization |
| spellingShingle | Nandita Sharma Yogesh Bahurupi Suneela Garg Umesh Kapil Pankaj Bhardwaj Om Prakash Bera Mahendra Singh Pradeep Aggarwal Need for a Strong FOPL in India-position Statement Indian Journal of Community Medicine noncommunicable diseases public health ultra-processed foods urbanization |
| title | Need for a Strong FOPL in India-position Statement |
| title_full | Need for a Strong FOPL in India-position Statement |
| title_fullStr | Need for a Strong FOPL in India-position Statement |
| title_full_unstemmed | Need for a Strong FOPL in India-position Statement |
| title_short | Need for a Strong FOPL in India-position Statement |
| title_sort | need for a strong fopl in india position statement |
| topic | noncommunicable diseases public health ultra-processed foods urbanization |
| url | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_756_24 |
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