Devi Poojari
Updated:May 30, 2024
ShareThe Indian Medical Council of Research along with the National Institute of Nutrition has been issuing a series of guidelines in a bid to encourage citizens to improve and educate themselves about healthy eating patterns. In its most recent guideline, the medical authority urges manufacturers to limit the usage of sugar in packaged food and drinks.
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Due to growing evidence backing that increased sugar consumption could lead to various types of cancer of the breast, prostate and colorectal, the ICMR rules suggest that conscious consumption and abstinence of packaged food and beverages could help decrease the risk. While industry stakeholders in food packaging lashed against the ‘impracticality’ of the new rules, they have also mentioned that the formulation of many food products might change as a result. While the threshold for sugar has been calculated at approximately 5 per cent energy from added sugar, and not exceeding 10 per cent energy from total sugar for solid foods, the threshold for sugar in packaged drinks has been calculated at approximately 10 per cent energy from added sugar, and not exceeding 30 per cent energy from total sugar (including naturally present sugar in fruit juices/milk, etc.
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