Researchers have unveiled a groundbreaking front-of-pack diet label (FoPL) system tailor-made particularly for India, aimed toward selling more healthy meals decisions and combating the rise of nutrition-related illnesses and weight problems within the nation.
Commissioned by the World Well being Group, India, a staff of researchers from The George Institute for International Well being, Melbourne Middle for Conduct Change, UNICEF, and the Worldwide Union in opposition to Tuberculosis and Lung Illness carried out an in depth examine to develop the brand new FoPL system.
India, dwelling to the world’s largest inhabitants, has skilled a major shift in dietary habits, with an alarming improve within the consumption of processed and unhealthy meals. In response, the Indian authorities is taking proactive measures to implement a complete front-of-pack diet labeling system.
The examine concerned surveying 1,270 adults from totally different areas of India to guage 5 totally different FoPLs at the moment in use worldwide, tailored to swimsuit the Indian context. The findings, printed within the journal Meals High quality and Choice, revealed {that a} two-color A number of Visitors Lights label outperformed different labels by way of goal data and meals alternative outcomes.
“Our examine has conclusively proven {that a} two-color label using a site visitors mild format not solely supplies helpful data however can be broadly deemed efficient, helpful, and likable by most respondents,” stated D Praveen, a researcher at The George Institute for International Well being.
The significance of incorporating colour into the design of the brand new diet label can’t be overstated. All of the FoPLs examined within the examine had optimistic results on notion, alternative, and goal comprehension, indicating the potential of such labels to help shoppers in making more healthy meals decisions.
These findings are anticipated to information the Meals Security and Requirements Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Indian authorities as they work in the direction of the creation of a front-of-pack diet labeling system. The last word goal is to empower Indian shoppers with simply accessible and comprehensible details about the dietary content material of packaged meals, thereby selling more healthy consuming habits and curbing diet-related diseases.
(With inputs from PTI)