FSSAI’s star rating proposal ineffective in curbing unhealthy foods, says doctors panel

National food regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)’s star rating labelling proposal for packaged foods will be ineffective in curbing consumption of unhealthy foods,health activists and doctors said in joint statements.

They said consumption of packaged and ultra-processed foods and beverages increasing exponentially across India is leading to shifts in diets, and is leading to higher diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Dr Umesh Kapil, president, Epidemiological Foundation of India said, “The purpose of front-of-pack labels is to give clear and unambiguous information about the health value of food products, that helps people make the right choice. Even though well intended, FSSAI’s proposed India Nutrition Rating, is unlikely to serve that purpose.”


The statement cited study findings by All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and International Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS), that consumers prefer clear warning labels. FSSAI’s proposed label norms, however, are based on star ratings. “This will confuse consumers. Even the unhealthiest food product may get two stars and gain a false ‘health halo,” Dr Kapil said.

Front-of-pack warning labelling is gaining traction across the world as an important strategy to improve public health as it helps consumers to identify in a quick, clear and effective way, products high in sugar, sodium, saturated fats, trans fats and total fats.

Dr Pankaj Bharadwaj, professor, community medicine, AIIMS Jodhpur, said: “Labels which only highlight nutrients of concern, like warning labels, work best to safeguard public health. India, which accounts for 25% of the global burden of heart disease, must go for the gold standard.”

The health experts questioned FSSAI’s decision to rely on findings of an IIM Ahmedabad report.