The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is all set to implement all the norms and regulations that ensure safer consumption. The front-of-pack labeling discourages the consumers to buy packaged food high in salt, sugar, and fats. The public health experts are unhappy with the apex body for doing so.

The apex body has previously decided to implement the star rating. The ratings were similar to the ones that can be seen on the electronic equipment. While few groups of people prefer the star ratings, few consider warning labels that highlight the fats, sugar, and salt in the food product.

Additionally, the star rating on the products only allows to rate the product and restricts it to provide the additional information such as the nutritional value of the product. Few people also are bothered about the ratings of the unhealthy food that might affect the consumer’s decision.

Ashwin Bhadri, CEO, Equinox Labs says “The warning labels and star rating on the food label help to know only whether the consumable is safe or not. The warning labels allow educating the consumer about the excessive presence of sugar, salt, and fats. Also, approving the star ratings doesn’t allow the consumers to know about the ingredients present in the product that can hamper the health.”

He added, “The front-of-labeling helps the consumers by educating them about the products that affect their health. The implementation of the health stars only specifies whether the product is safe or not. To ensure the food products or the consumables are safe, the consumers should be made available with the required information about the ingredients in the product. Additionally, the implementation of the star rating might allow the FBOs to provide limited information that can mislead the consumers. ”