Nestle has urged India to consult food companies while framing front-of-pack health warning rules, saying the system should be based on scientific evidence and enable consumers to make informed choices, reported Reuters.
Nestle CEO Philipp Navratil said the company supports front-of-pack labelling for products high in sugar, salt and fat. However, he said manufacturers should also be part of the process to ensure that the rules are developed on scientific grounds.
The comments come amid growing criticism over the lack of front-facing health warnings on packaged food and drinks in the country.
The government has been trying for years to introduce some form of warning label on food and beverage packaging.
However, it dropped a proposal in March after companies such as Coca-Cola and industry groups representing companies including Nestle opposed the measures.
The issue has attracted fresh attention following reports of the industry’s opposition. Consumers and health experts have also expressed their anger on social media.
Coca-Cola and Nestle have voluntarily used similar labels on some of their products in several European markets for years.
The debate has also reached the Supreme Court. After hearing pleas filed by health activists, the court criticised the Centre over delays and called for front-facing warning labels to be implemented.
Meanwhile, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the food safety regulator, did not respond to Reuters’ queries on the matter.
According to industry estimates, nearly 80% of products in India’s more than $100 billion packaged food and beverages market could be considered high in fat, sugar and salt.
This has made front-of-pack warnings an important part of the wider discussion around packaged food in the country.
The debate has also drawn attention to how global companies sell different versions of the same products in different countries. The report mentioned that companies make changes based on local regulations, consumer tastes and spending capacity.
One example that has triggered discussion is Fanta. A can sold in London contains 63 calories, while the same-sized product in India contains three times as much sugar and 185 calories.
The comparison has led to criticism on social media, with some consumers questioning why products sold in India can have different nutritional content from those available in other markets.
The latest debate comes as the government has stepped up enforcement on food safety issues.
At the centre of the labelling debate, however, is a larger disagreement over how India’s food rules should be framed.
Nestle wants manufacturers to have a voice in the process, while health activists argue that companies should not be involved in deciding public health labelling standards. For consumers, the issue remains fairly simple: they want clear information on food packets that helps them understand what they are buying.