In the social media platform X, Kamath emphasised the importance of questioning the ingredients in our food and making well informed choices to prevent the dreadful levels of sugar, adulteration, and harmful chemicals found in common food stuffs.
We Indians need to question what goes into the food we consume. The more we ask, the better choices we will have. The sugar content in most of our food is ridiculous. Adulteration in food items like masalas, milk and protein. And then there are substandard chemicals used in food… pic.twitter.com/rJet0s14PG
— Nithin Kamath (@Nithin0dha) May 28, 2024
In response to the National Institute of Nutrition’s (NIN) advice on sugar content in packaged foods and beverages, Nithin Kamath, CEO of Zerodha has put up concerns about the quality of food consumed by Indians.
Kamath wrote, “We Indians need to question what goes into the food we consume. The more we ask, the better choices we will have. The sugar content in most of our food is ridiculous. Adulteration in food items like masalas, milk and protein. And then there are substandard chemicals used in food colouring and preservatives in fruits and vegetables. They are all slowly killing us. This applies to both packaged foods and food from many restaurants.”
The new guidelines proposed by the NIN are about to impact a wide range of branded products, including soft drinks, juices, cookies, ice creams, cereals, and more. These guidelines are crucial steps in promoting healthier dietary habits among the Indian Population.
The decision was made as on social media and on other platforms there were disputes over the excessive sugar content in the infant food Cerelac and the malted drink Bournvita.
The revised recommendations created by a multidisciplinary team of experts, specify that the “threshold for sugar has been calculated at ~5% energy from added sugar, and not exceeding 10% energy from total sugar” for solid meals.
Executives from packaged food firms have raised doubts over the recommendation’s applicability, claiming that they would compel them to make significant modifications to the current formulas. The mismatch arises from the belief that the recommendations would prohibit even staple items from being labelled as “healthy,” and it might have an impact on the sector as a whole.
Despite the resistance from food and beverage companies, health advocates are arguing that these guidelines are essential in combating the escalating issues of obesity and diabetes in India. The objective of the guidelines is to enhance transparency and empower consumers to make more informed choices about their dietary intake by establishing clear thresholds for sugar content. As the debate between industry stakeholders and health experts continues, Kamath’s message resonates with a crucial call to action for Indians to carefully examine the food they consume.
Author: Sangi Roy
Student of mass communication with a deep passion for print media and reading. My hobbies include traveling, exploring ancient history, and visiting museums.
