Lok Sabha Question No. 3189 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-12
Subject: Packaged Foods
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Parvesh Sahib Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3189 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 TH JULY, 2019

## PACKAGED FOODS

## 3189. SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is true that carbonated soft drinks have high acidic tendencies which can harm human body in long term and if so, the details thereof and steps taken by the Government regard;
- (b) whether majo rity of the fried packaged snacks has high cholesterol and can cause diab tendencies and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  carried  out  any  survey/research/report  on  the  healthine processed and packaged food and its impac t on human health and if so, the details and timings thereof; and
- (d) the corrective measures taken by the Government to regulate packaged snacks/foods?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a): Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has informed that Carbonated beverages have unique  properties  that  may  potentially  exacerbate  gastro - oesophageal  reflux  disease  (GERD), such as high acidity and carbonation. However, a systematic r eview carried out on effects of carbonated  beverages  on  gastro - oesophageal  reflux  disease  concluded  that  there  is  no  direc evidence that carbonated beverag es promote or exacerbate GERD .
- (b) to (c): ICMR has not carried out any study on whether majority of the fried packaging snacks has high cholesterol and can cause diabetes tendencies. However, ICMR has initiated a centre Task Force study entitled 'Consumption pattern of food and food products/items high in fat,  salt  and  sugar  among  selected  cities/ towns  and  rural  population  of  India'  in  2018  at  16 locations of the country with the primary objective to assess the consumption pattern of food products/items high in fat, salt and sugar, from organized and unorganized sector study cover s 66000  households  from  selected  metropolitan,  urban,  rural  and  tribal  ci covering all zones of the country i.e, North, North East , Central, East, West and South to asses various  parameters  such  as  anthropometric  status,  biochemical  profile  (random  blo od  sugar,

cholesterol,  triglycerides,  HDL  cholesterol) and    harmful  effects  of  foods  and  food products/items rich in fat, salt and sugar and importance of physical activity . (d): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has prescribed f ood standards for most of the food categories under Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and F Additives) Regulations, 2011. These Regulations also contain list of permitted food additi limits of food additives permitted in food cat egories. FSSAI has also prescribed the limits of heavy  metals,  crop  contaminants,  pesticides  and  antibiotics  residues  in  various  commo under Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011. T responsibility  and  liabi lities  of  Food  Business  Operators  (FBOs)  including  manufacturers, packers,  wholesalers,  distributors  and  sellers  are  prescribed  under  Section  26  and  Sec respectively of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Schedule 4 of the Food Safety Stand ards  (Licensing  and  Registration)  Regulations  2011  prescribes  the  sanitary  and  hy practices required to be observed by the FBOs.

Further,  every  Food  Business  Operator  manufacturing  pre - packaged  food  items  has  to follow the provisions of Food Safety an d Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011 wherein  it  is  mandatory  for  the  pre - packaged  food  to  display  nutritional  information,  list  o ingredients,  'best  before'      etc.  as  prescribed  under  sub - regulation 2.2.2 of these Regulations. FSSAI hasalso formulated a regulation on definition and front - of - packing labelling of High Fat Salt Sugar (HFSS) Foods, as a measure to enable consumer to be aware of such products make an informed choice while purchasing these products. It has been draft noti fied for inviting public comments.  The implementation and enforcement of the provisions of Food Safety a Standards  Act,  2006  and  Rules  and  Regulations  made  thereunder  primarily  rests  with State/UT Governments.

……………..