Packaged food companies could move toward more transparency and healthier food options

Organized packaged food players are feeling the pressure on their health claims, product formulations and nutritional levels due to concerns raised in recent times by public health advocates, social media influencers and users. Experts say this is likely to push organized players to make a more pronounced shift towards healthier products and more transparency in their labels.

Last week, Swiss NGO Public Eye raised concerns about the amount of “added sugars” in Nestle’s baby food products sold in India and other emerging markets. Stating that there is no definition for ‘health drinks’, FSSAI had earlier this month directed e-commerce players not to categorize products such as Bournvita, Complan and Horlicks as health drinks on their sites. Spice brands Everest and MDH are facing criticism from the Center for Food Safety, Hong Kong’s food regulator, over allegations of the presence of ethylene oxide in some products. Social media influencer Revant Himatsingka also made claims about high sodium levels in certain ready-to-eat products served during the flight on Indigo.

• Also read: Food safety agency to investigate Swiss NGO Public Eye’s claims of ‘added sugar’ in Nestlé baby cereals

According to KS Narayanan, food and beverage expert and former MD, McCain Foods India, superficial adherence to regulatory norms is different from strictly following practices that promote public health. That said, packaged food companies also face a host of real practical issues that need to be addressed while adhering to health standards.

“The national and international packaged food companies usually ensure that they comply with the regulations in writing. The food standards prepared by FSSAI have been harmonized with the CODEX standards. But the big question is whether they meet this in spirit. The challenge is that the ingredients you get in India can be vastly different from those in other markets. Therefore, product formulations may vary from country to country due to various factors. Brands must also address the local needs of consumers in each market in terms of pricing and packaging,” Narayanan said.

This tightened control comes at a time when consumers are increasingly looking for healthier food products. Social media has allowed public health activists and influencers to spread their message far and wide. At the same time, insurgent brands that offer healthier options or clean label products are nibbling away at the market share of bigger players, experts say.

• Also read: FSSAI cracks down on contaminated food on flights; instructs airlines to ensure correct labelling

“Going forward, packaged food companies that fail to adhere to the letter and spirit of the standards will increasingly be pilloried. At the same time, we may also see many more innovations in better-for-you products and more transparent statements from the organized players,” Narayanan added.

Rinka Banerjee, founder of Thinking Forks Consulting and former R&D director of HUL, stated that packaged food companies have already started shifting towards healthier product portfolios.

“A key approach being driven globally and also in India in food product innovation is to gradually reduce the negative nutrients and increase the positive nutrients in products so that you still deliver great taste and consumers slowly adapt to the lower salt or sweetness of products. For example. It is a step-by-step approach,” she says.

Harsh Gursahani, nutrition lawyer and partner at OUR Chambers, pointed out that making science-based claims, in line with regulations, helps companies create a differentiator in the market. “While larger players have generally been more cautious about making false claims, we are now also seeing many more medium and small packaged food companies coming to us for help to ensure their claims are scientifically substantiated and comply with the regulations. he added.

Meanwhile, public health advocates are calling for a stricter framework for the packaged food industry.

Arun Gupta, Convenor, Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPi), in a video post on He said there is a need for a definition of high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) products and warning labels on the front of the pack.