With an increasing inclination towards health and food safety among the masses, the Indian government has been actively working towards new ways to empower consumers on food safety issues and the need for understanding regional food habits. Recently, the Union Health Minister advised FSSAI to spread awareness about food safety and the importance of eating healthy.Here’s all you need to know about it.
The advisory
In one of the recent food safety review meetings, Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to reach out to consumers on different aspects of food safety issues to promote healthy eating habits. As per a report published in PTI, this official announcement was made during a review meeting at FSSAI headquarters in the national capital on Monday. This decision was rolled out after increasing concerns about food safety and quality control across the country, especially with the plethora of emerging food startups.
As per the official statement, he mentioned that “it is important to empower consumers and citizens on various food safety issues through evidence-based information. It is only then that our work will be accomplished in totality.”

He further added that the food, beverage and hospitality industries also need to undergo a behavioral change to inculcate healthy eating habits across the country.
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As per the report, the Union Health Minister also emphasized that the different regions of India have different dietary habits and preferences. So, it is important for the food authority to understand them individually and frame the policies accordingly, prompting sustainable dietary, agricultural and industrial practices.

Actions taken
Working towards the advice of the Union Minister, FSSAI has taken a step forward towards healthy food practices, wherein the authority has approved the changes to nutritional information labeling on packaged food items. According to the report, the new regulations by the food authority also made it mandatory to display total sugar, salt and saturated fat content on food packets in bold letters and larger font sizes to make it fair for consumers.
The amendments
As per an official statement by the FSSAI, “The amendment aims to empower consumers to better understand the nutritional value of the product they are consuming and make healthier decisions.”
What is your take on this?
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