I was watching a Netflix documentary on “Blue Zones”. Essentially a Blue Zone is a demographic regional area where people live long lives. Not only do the residents live long, but they are also healthy. A good example is Okinawa where the average life expectancy is more than the average internationally or even for Japan.
The other interesting region that came up in the documentary is Singapore, a thriving “Blue Zone” mainly due to its thrust on policies for public health, parks and workout areas and its focus on integrated family life.
It was no surprise then when recently the Singapore government implemented new regulations in the sugar labelling system, particularly through the Nutri-Grade labelling system. This system requires prepackaged and freshly prepared beverages to display a Nutri-Grade label that indicates their sugar and saturated fat content. The labelling aims to inform consumers about the nutritional quality of the products they are purchasing.
As of December 30, 2023, the Nutri-Grade labelling requirements were extended to include freshly prepared beverages sold in specified settings. This means that not only packaged drinks but also those made on-site must comply with these labelling standards. The grading System uses a grading scale (A to D) to categorize beverages based on their nutritional content. Products with higher sugar and saturated fat levels receive lower grades, which are intended to discourage the consumption of unhealthy options. The grading comes with colours
- Nutri-Grade A: Dark green, with the lowest sugar and saturated fat content
- Nutri-Grade B: Light green, with low levels of sugar and saturated fat
- Nutri-Grade C: Orange, with a substantial level of sugar and saturated fat
- Nutri-Grade D: Red, with the highest sugar and saturated fat content
Nutri-Grade D are prohibited from, further promoting healthier choices among consumers. There are further plans to extend this grading to food items like instant noodles, sauces and cooking oils.
In India recently Revand Himatsingka alias the @FoodPharmer was in the news when he took on a beverage company. In 2023 he posted a video showing the high content of sugar in a popular beverage. The beverage consumed mostly by children was touted a s health drink. I used to drink it myself as a child as they used to sponsor a popular quiz show and as an avid quizzer in school, I believed this would help me to perform better at quizzes. Needless to say, the company sent a legal notice and he was forced to take down the video and issued a statement. He received support from other groups including a bunch of doctors and nutritionists that backed his claim. But later National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) issued a legal notice to Cadbury India in June 2023, demanding the withdrawal of all “misleading” advertisements and packaging. The company has since then cut the sugar content by almost 15%.
But why is sugar content so high in packaged goods across the world?
Overall, sugar plays a multifaceted role in the packaged food industry, contributing to flavour, preservation, texture, and consumer satisfaction. But the biggest reason sugar is added is because it is a very good natural preservative, making stocks last longer and that helps with supply chain and demand planning. Also, sugar helps retain the moisture content in most packaged goods and improves the flavour. Last but not least sugar is addictive. I believe sugar goes into the manufacturing of cigarettes as well and is a well-known antiseptic that was used on the battlefield in the 19th and 20th centuries. It was not the main ingredient but was used as an antiseptic for emergencies.
The reason why sugar is a problem now is that it is the number one cause of obesity and promotes conditions like Insulin resistance leading to type 2 diabetes. As a dentist, I used to see this as a big reason for the decay of teeth. Sugar also has an impact on the skin, increasing triglycerides and leading to heart disease and mood swings.
I think it is time that the Indian government takes serious note of regulating the amount of sugar added to all food items, starting with processed food.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Guidelines have established guidelines for food labelling, which include mandatory declarations of added sugars in packaged foods and beverages. This aims to increase consumer awareness about sugar content.
The Indian government has issued dietary guidelines that recommend limiting the intake of added sugars. These guidelines are part of broader public health initiatives to combat obesity and related non-communicable diseases.
Some states in India have also levied taxes on sugary beverages making them more expensive to deter consumers.
But the final choice is with you, and this is what I want all of you to do
- Please read the food labels before buying processed food. As per the FSSAI Guidelines, all branded products have to come with the content labelling, and this will tell you how much sugar is already added to the package
- Try to replace processed food with natural ingredients, substitute energy drinks with homemade lemon water, try preparing snacks at home rather than consuming packaged snacks
- Educate yourself and speak out more often. Most food companies are very sensitive to public opinion. If you start voicing these opinions outside you will see that like in the case of the beverage company above action will be taken
- Encourage the government to make tighter laws around it, Like Singapore the Indian government needs to step up its activities to regulate added sugar more tightly. Colour-coded labels are a good step forward.
In conclusion, I think the time has come to declare war on sugar. As I wrote in my book- “Own Your Health”, it’s important to recognise that sugar intake leads to obesity and today this has reached epidemic proportions. There are apps in the market like “Truthin” that you can use to scan barcodes, it can give you a sense of what’s added to the packaged food and whether it is good for you to consume.
Knowledge is the first step towards health, action will make it a reality. As always would love to hear your views on the topic, do send me your thoughts and ideas on the same.
