The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), which works with the health ministrybacked Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has recommended sugar content thresholds for packaged foods and beverages for the first time, reported The Economic Times.
This initiative could significantly affect a wide range of branded products such as soft drinks, juices, cookies, ice creams, cereals, and other items found both online and in stores.
This represents a shift from the previous focus on calorie thresholds for foods and beverages. The NIN-ICMR dietary guidelines have been updated for the first time in 13 years.
Executives from packaged foods companies have criticized the new guidelines as impractical. They argue that if the government adopts and enforces these recommendations, many brands will need to alter their product formulations.
“These guidelines are unprecedented in India, though they align with global best practices. So far, neither regulators nor researchers in India have clearly defined these terms,” stated a senior executive at Hyderabad-based NIN. “It is widely understood that foods high in fat, sugar, and salt, as well as ultra-processed foods, should be limited, but a precise definition has been lacking in India.”
