Industry Must Adopt Ethical Practices in Food Labelling and Advertising to Protect Consumers

The Centre has urged industries to adopt ethical practices in food product labelling and advertising to safeguard public health and consumer interests. This call was made during a National Stakeholder Consultation on the regulatory framework for food labelling, advertising, and claims, as stated by the Health Ministry.

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The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, organised this consultation. Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, highlighted the need for ethical and truthful practices in food labelling and advertising at the event.

Importance of Ethical Practices in Food Labelling

Srivastava emphasised that with global exposure increasing rapidly, there is a need to adopt positive changes and best practices while scrutinising food products more closely. "Things are changing rapidly today. We are now exposed to the entire world, which means we must adopt many positive changes and best practices, while also scrutinizing food products more closely," she said.

Nidhi Khare, Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs, urged the industry to ensure truthful declarations in their advertisements. She stressed that food labelling should not merely serve as a marketing tool but should be a crucial factor of trust between manufacturers and consumers.

Industry's Role in Honest Declarations

Khare stated, "Food labelling should not just be a marketing tool, but it should also be treated as the most essential factor of trust between a manufacturer and a consumer. We want truthful and honest declaration of whatever is contained in the food product, and the consumer should be left to make the final choice."

The consultation saw participation from approximately 700 representatives from central and state governments, scientific experts, food businesses, industry associations, consumer organisations, and academic institutions. This diverse attendance underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in ensuring ethical practices in food labelling.

The event highlighted the critical role industries play in maintaining transparency through accurate labelling. Such practices are vital for building consumer trust and ensuring informed choices regarding food products. The emphasis on ethical advertising aligns with global trends towards greater accountability in consumer goods sectors.

With inputs from PTI